Full text of "Sinclair User Magazine 1986 Annual"

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3< T -M!

£2.50

QL MEGA GRAPHICS
FROM TALENT

HUGO CORNWALL

BLOWS THE UD

OFF HACKING

Create superb colour pictures on your
QL with TALErlT's outstanding new graphics
package. It's supplied on two microdnVes-
the first holds the master program and a
printer dump utility, the second, three
demonstration pictures. Backup copies can
be made GrWhlQL comes with a detailed,
clearly- written 60 page instruction manual,
outlining the program's many facilities,

• Freehand drawing, 8 colours, optional flash

• Rubber banding, rubber boxes, even rubber
circles and ellipses • Variable size texture
definition • Doodle pad ^b^ ■ m

• Colour and texture fill TIP * A
of any shaped area ■ j M ^

• User definable paint brush - any colour
or width • Colour list for full control • Re-
colour facility • Magnification with panning

• Mirroring and rotation of blocks of screen

• Air-brush effect • On-line 'help' facility

• Full file-store access • Printer dump utility.

Text can be included in pictures. The
characters can be single or double height
with flash and underline. GRAPfllQL pictures
can be put into BA5IC or assembler programs
with the sample routines provided.

Available from selected branches of

k m

LENT

COMPUTER SYSTEMS

Boots & WH Smiths.

£34.95 i 50p
postage & packing

Curran Building, 101 St James Road, Glasgow 54 0M5. Telr 041-552 Z128 (24 hour credit cafd hot-line) Software from Scotland

QL and Microdrwe are registered trade marks of Sinclair Research Ltd.

Contents -

EDITORIAL

Editor John Gilbert

Consultant editor BUI Scolding

Staff writers Chris Bourne,
Qare Edgelcy

Designer Craig Kennedy

Editorial secretary Nnrisah Fenri

Publisher Neil Wood

ADVERTISING

Advertising manager Louise Fanlhorpe

Deputy advertisement manager
Shahid Nizam

Advertisement saks executive
Kathy Mclennan

Production assistant J in. McClure

Advertisement secretary Linda Everest

MAGAZINE SERVICES
Subscriptions manager Carl Dunne

TELEPHONE

All departments 01 -251 6222

Sinclair (J«r4*!flii3/»s published by
EMAP Business & Computer Publications

[f vol would like to contribute to

S'wiuir C 'ttf please send

programs or articles to:

Smclstr User,

EMAP Business & Computer Publications,

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30*32 FarringdoD Lane,
London EClR 3AU,

Original programs should be on cassette and
articles should be typed. We cannot
undertake to return them unlets a
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We pay £20 for each program
printed and £50 for star programs.

Typeset by Saffron Graphics Ltd,
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Printed by Peterboro' Web,
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ihuted by EMAP Publications Ltd. ©

nghi \Wi$ Sinclair C7mt
ISSN No 0262-5458

INTRODUCTION 5

The home computer industry has undergone drastic changes during the
past year. How do those changes affect the future of Sinclair computers
and their users?

WHATEVER HAPPENED

A pictorial parade of the events which shaped 1985.

SINCLAIR SIMON

The comic cult hero who makes a hack of computing.

GREMLIN

The terror from the gossip jungle is unleashed again to bring you the
events of 1986.

COMMUNICATIONS

Hugo Cornwall reveals the secrets of a hacker and William John shows
how to set up your own communications legally. Gary Price explains
how to tie your computer up to a printer.

Archive

group of procedures is to be called
when saved. The program is started
by cmcring run "repurt". Once work-
ing the computer will drop from
memory groups of procs which are not
currently called.

To run a program , each group of
procedures must include one called
start, as thai will be the first to be
called. Proc start, in listing two,
includes modeO to remove the default
prompts from die work area. When
Archive is first loaded the mode is 1 ,8.
The strings wait$ and choice! are
used throughout the program to pro-
vide a standard and present a profes-
sional image which is easy to use,

Proc menu prints choice! and the
text is displayed, asking what action is
to be undertaken. The number of files
in record and remaining memory are
displayed using the functions count()
and memoryO- Lower (getkeyQ)
waits for a key to be pressed, then
converts the letter to lower case. If V
is chosen the message is overwritten

Archive can be
used to produce
very sophisticated
applications and
changed to suit
individual needs

with the new message while the file is
being closed, if one of the other
options is chosen the message ;wait$ is
displayed and that whole group of
procedures is cancelled from memory.
Archive would then run the procs
required.

Proc message;mcss$ prints any
text passed to it at the print-ai position
on screen* Any string can be display-
ed, for example, mess age;' hello" or
message; appropriate string variable.

The group of procedures in listing
three is saved separately as report!,
When called it goes first to proc start,
which includes an error trapping
routine using the command error.
The while -end while loop in proc mis-
take will trap any errors in subsequent
procs and return you to the menu.

In proc newrec the use of Archive's
command append adds a record to the
file with the information received in
proc sinp. To ensure no details from
an existing file are added, proc clear is
called and the command spruit makes
sure thai the screen is ready for new

COMPANY: OREENFIKI OS

•*aiM«M««aHauuiu

DATE VISITED !- 03 CI6 63 CONTACT Ml Tom luitl

NOTES

F i i *.t Ifcit, Bmi is Mr Air in. Qi tfd who n*a dbiti.i.

Jaritt frlandJ. o 1 d ■ t i m#f #trd Inaui hi* builntM tout Gr

•*■!

pl«Hi Qidei ti

DATE "ISITED :- OS'Cf'eiS CONTACT Mi A4tl«.FI Gi ••<<

NOTES

S*quii *■ *; jpuplei of i □■• root ttoclti btfui* m j«i in?.

Ord*i potential ccmldti ttl* one* Given Won DVII .

DATE "ISITED :- OS/Oa'SS CONTACT I'll Adr L*n Gi un

NOTES

Inprn«J with root ato<_l quail it/. Willing tt* gi iln 500

i *

diaCOUnt luprovfl, C»n w» 9iv* Son "•

DATE '.'1S1TE0 i- lfi.'09'a3 CONTACT Ni A-Ujd., Gr »*ll

NOTES

Quote J 2Q% liicnuht #e»r r amm rapt ( kocU but OfJ*r hiuit

»* lOGG.

Agr-JBd Mill orjti ZOOO 1* 33% gfv*n. Prie.i#d Don vile M|

• • J . To

■uppi » ii es

O I .' tl .'8S

CONTACT Mr Adili<i Gi m»n

DAtE '-'ISITED

I luTES

Ch«cU»d Nfiat J#liitr,' data Lttt t-or ZOOO tarn* toot itacli. usin

•'•'■I3f d to 2-1 1 1, this month if wm can «r r *f>3* k pr*i*i ibl , « M .

AREA LONDON

FOLLOW UF VISITS FOP SEPTEMBER l?99

DATE

AREA

COMPAM . CONTACT

O? O? ■ 19&5

LONDON

BAi' TREE Hf . 1 , Ul.i L*

ifi;09/J985

LONDON

GREENFIELDS Mr Adrian Grtth

DA r F-

AREA

FOLLOW UP UtSltS FOR
CO MP AN'.

L"395

09,

I9S3

1995

C"S.

1995

19S3

J9G3

GLOS

FLOWER GARDEN

LONDON

BAY TREE

LONDON

GREENFIELDS

SURREY

GREENF1NGERS

SI OS

STALKS

SUSSEX

TREES

EXPENSES DUE
DATE VISITED AREA

FROM 1 1 I9B5 TO 3 1

COMPAN i

SEPTEMBER l*B5
CONTACT

Nlfta I. BlHI
Ml . I . Uhlta
Mr Adr 1 mn Or **t.
Nin Ai Bi oan
14 In B. Thin
Ml Bill Limb

I i i 9sa

PETROL EXPENSES

■ i^es

SURREY

GREEHF IMGERS

1965

GLOS

FLOWER GARDEN

'OZ

1995

LQNDON

DA i TREE

H,03

j»es

LONDON

■AY TREE

1 A

■03

' 19S5

GLOS ,

FLOWER GARDEN

'G3

I9B5

GLOS

STALKS

2 *

■"J 4

1*85

GLOS

FLOWER GARDEN

'05-

I9B9

LONDON

BAY TREE

'03

19SS

GLQ5

STALKS

1 J .

'OS.

1 ?S5

SURREY

GREENFINQERS

Q6<

1963

LONDON

GREENFIELDS

lO.

>OA.'

1*55

GLOS

FLOWER GARDEN

28/Oi

I9S3

LONDON

BAY TREE

03/

1*33

LONDON

QREEMFIELES

Q->

19B5

SURRE'i

GREENFINGERS

09.

0"*

199S

QLOS

STALKS

1 ?B5

LONDON

GREENFIELDS

J 963

SUSSEX

TREE&

19B3

SURREY

9REENFINGERS

QV '<>•?

19B3

LONDON

BA i TREE

lb'

19S9

I ONDON

GREENFIELDS

1 ?S3

susses

TREES

Ol .

' 1 1

1983

LONDON

GREENFIELDS

SINCLAIR USER AwuultK 111 A

input. Finally, before append takes
place proc check is called. Note how
proc mistake is used to return to the
menu if necessary .

With proc sinp, the command sin-
put provides an alternative method of
adding information. Data can be
added to a displayed field in any
order. That differs from insert in
which data must be entered in the
fik's order of creation. In our case
field, cotnpanyS is made upper case.
The dates entered are checked for
errors by calling proc getdate. Petrol
expenses, are calculated when the dis-
tance is entered — let due = distance
times 20 pence per mile/ 100 to give
number of £ and p. Using the let
command the dates are arranged in
reverse order in vdatcS and vdate2$
so that when they are required in proc
petrol arid proc follup the correct
period can he calculated.

Proc getdate checks the entries
which are passed to it, taking the
name 4 and using the Archive func-
tions len & code

1st line: If only one number has
been inserted a is placed in front of
it

2nd line: Checks that both numbers
inserted are not noughts.

3rd line: Checks thai the first char-
acter b in the range 0-9.

4th line: Checks that the second
character is in the range 0-9.

5th line: Checks that no more than
two characters have been inserted.

If any mistakes are found by those
tines, an error message is displayed —
prtK mist — and you are returned to
the menu. If all is correct the value of
2$ is given to q$, which can then be
passed hack to the calling variable.
For exam pie > 2 becomes 02 but 20
remains 20.

Proc action ;act$ takes the form of
any text passed to it. The text is shown
on the screen and subsequent text is
displayed next to it.

Proc bye deletes the record
obtained through proc getrec after the
required confirmation has been re-
ceived.

Data can be added

to a displayed

field in any

order and the

dates entered are

checked for errors

Listing three

proc *

r em aav* object "rtportl" : I *"i «ilIh,*III - «*v* "f#poftl"

•ndproc
proc fttioil'ttl

■pice! print at 23, Ol ink 4)«ct*l

•rtdproc

proc brf

lat j na™ " - : ga Lf ae

hH 1 1 ■ >■ n • \ > ■ y * of f n« > ■ n *

actlQfiJ "DELETE THIS RECORD ; ENTER Y/M ? ■

input (ink 4| rnf : lat yti* z loM*r (ynt)

If snW* m /*i dalata :cl»W : apf kut. : pi Hit it 22. "^t"
(•turn : andif

it yn*«"rt* : ni alaka: tFiiiit : rudwhi I*

andproc

proc cluck

Iflf»i9*l 'THESE DETAILS Q,K. TO SAVE Y/N ~"

lat /hi- -- : ntil It yt'i*-: /" :" or /f i* Q > " n " : lat yfi*>lDMir l^tthti'O l

it ynt> a Ti";n(it«k«; »ndii s i* jn*»»"/"i return : *n4i« :

andnhi la ar.dpi or;
proc c I *ar

lat conpih/i»"": lat CQnt#Ct»*"i ] at araaa-*"

lat dayai-" " : Ivt mort*-"": 1st : ,-*ar*-- - : lat vdai«i«"

Lat notti*-"": lat nnt»2»- 4 ■ i lat dittfnct-Oi lat dut-O

lat i*»y2»»*"l l*t mor.2i«": lat ,t«r2t-": lat wdata2»*»-

• rid fir DC
proc c|*tdat* I Z*

1 + lan(j*!-l: lat ifO'iit: and l f

if cQti»(j:i)i49 and coda f i* (23 1 < 49 : m i > t : and i f

if CDdtli*!<;4S or cadclitl >S'?:ni«t : tndit

If coda (i*(2) (» 4S or ecdadlCl ) >a?!nnt: andif

Lf I ati ( j»> >z: in k • t : and if i lat op-ia

tndproc
proc g»th mc

•ctlonl 'EriTKft name df company :"! input coh*m*

J«t Lui,.m»»-upptp <LUII«I*II

Loc*t* cDiifiuft: mpi iiit : lat ihon»"'"s whllt B h ftMa K >'y»; pan

RECORD

M*it . Bluk, Fud Jul* p. Riv Jump.

,2<j} :

1 1 • t *L- * ;
ritur n

■<1 i i

i. ..J i f

RUSER Annual 1986

ma***?* I " THIS

Suit. '■

lat afiow*^ 1 owar i^atk*, t 1 t
If IhbuU'q 1 : print at 22,13)i»ptl*
if mhoM*-",*! print at 22,19lr»ptf
• ndtth i 1 a

IM'Jpi AC

pr dc manu

lat opt*-"": mr.il* sptf<2'* k iki«ii«g*ichali:rt

pi li.t at 22,36) ink 21 "FILES J II RECORD - 1 count d)
print -t 2fl,S8M«pt(' -.11*

pi int at 24,361 I ffta 4 | "MEMORY LEFT " 1 namor y ( I
lat upt*= i owar ( 9*tka y i r i i opt 1 Or i atidwl.il*
• ndpr dc
proc »i*ll<9fln*iil

ipict: pr Int at 23iOI ink 2|m*ma*
vrrdpir i_>i_

pr dc in i at

print at 24, Of Ink St 'MISTAKE PRESS AN. KEY TO RETURN TO MfeHU"
lat Ht>J*t|tty<)l print at 22, JSliapt t ■■ ".201
print at 24,D|i»ptC " . 80 i J m I • t »ka
a ndpr dc
proc in i w t *k*

lat ii= 1 : wliil* |tS #r r ui ntiiu: lat n«ti I numd
If hluiit: and if i tndHhlla

andpr "l.
pmL iitwr ti.

claar: ■print : Mti»qr| * INPUT NEW DETAILS 1

iiMpichick: ap pa n d

a n dp r ul

proc option

If Dptt-'i":imi»9t| "CLOSING ALL FILES'

clait ; inoda J,e; atop ; andif

If optt»" i ":n*wt »c: a fid if

uptf-"«":*Mop; andif

opt*«"d':b/»: andif

Qpt««"j"!«lt«! *ndjf

opt*-'p*: print at 24, S£ I rapt'" * ( 24 ! : nutlet I wa i t •
iuri abjict " i apor 1 2 " : r im At chlvt ( 1 I « run 'ripor tZ'
and i f

a ndpr Jl

proc poa
local z

if kliuMl 2 "n*: naxt ! apr-lnt : andif
if ihnw*«"b': bach i sprint : ■ndit
if ihDHl-"f ": act J on) "JUMP FORWARD: HOW MANY RECORDS ? "

input ink 41 z: poll t ion ncnuudtii eprlnt : andif
it ihDM*-"t":utlon|']LlMP BACK: HOD MANY RECORDS ° *

Input ink 4|Z1 If r acnum I > - z <o: flrit : aprlr.t : till
position racnu»<)-i: ipi int ; andif 3 andif
i f r acriuin ( J "0

pi int at 22,151 ink 41'*** FIRST RECORD »**-; til*

if taunt (1 -l»r icnun { t

if
If
if

Ink
Ink

■-»** LAST RECORD #*#": til
■FILE NUMBER ' | r ici.uml ) +1 |

111: print at ^4,66| ink 4linaiflar f(>

print at 22, 131

print at ZS t 13 I

mdH : tndit
print at 24.6Slr#pt<
andpr □ £.
p roc m i rip

•.input coiiiprfri .»: lat [onp»n/l*iipp»r Icaupih^t)
• input cQnUcti,<n«»: lat »t t<*-upp«r (»r»»»l

■ input diyt: g*tdit*|d*»t; ] at d*>a*qa

■ input ngni: 9#tda.t*l Man*: lat i»nri*-q*

■ input /*u •: If l*n <yaar*>> <2IftiSt ! and i f :g»td«t«|^
let v<iat«*-yBar-B. + i»c>na;.day*

■ input notal«,nataZ«,distanca: lat dut-d i ■ t »nCtt2Q/ lOO
pr Int «t 14,A2I"

print at 11,421 Ink « I dtit

■ Input d* r 2»: gatdatal da/Zi: lat d*>2»-q*

■ Input ndnZ*: gatdatal «on!t: I at non2f>ql

■ input yaar2«: if ltr.(n«r2l! , a:niit: tudif : g.td.t.l ,»*r2i
I at ^ditt2a-/*<r 2«tnDii2«4day2f

thdp roc
proc ip*Ct

■*rti 9

Z3,Olr»pl l

,aoi

la t n-»r i nuia 1 I
I m i *Ukt

pr Int at

■ndpr oc
proc start

a r > o t option:
niati andlf

tndpi qc
proc ■ wop

gat rac:«.*aaaq#l 'ALTER DETAILS OR PRESS ENTER "!■ I tip : e hank : updata

a ndpr oc
proc vIih

I at ihoHl-"': tl
Hhl la ihDH»< >"cT
iitlliqil "NfKt

BUlt Iql

lat ihDHt-loHtr (gatkay < ) )
if ihawt'-q'i print *t 22,
lnd«M I la
■ndpr DC

Archiv

I rat aprlnt 1 pot

(ni

Back IbK Fwd lump tf>; Rav jump ti I

Ipoa
1 9 i r ap t {

20)

and i t

Proc getrec uses the command
locate to find the field most similar to
that ordered and displays it. When
previously using proc sinp, we con-
verted the ordered field to upper ease
to ensure case matching.

Proc swop is used to alter existing
records and we introduce the Archive
command update,

Proc view displays the records for
examination and calls the procedure
proc pos. The latter displays the
records using next, back. Also, by
using the function recnumQ and the
command position, we are able to
jump backwards or forwards.

The procedures in listing four:
action ;act$ — getdate;z$ — menu —
message — mist — pos — space —
view must also appear in report! and
can be moved from report 1 to save
typing.

Proc pout is called via proc start
and proc option. It asks which print-
out is required and then calls the
appropriate proc.

Proc petrol prints out total ex-
penses due between the specified dates
using the command select on the field
vdate$. If any files are found, the field
vdatel is ordered so that the printout
is in chronological order* Each file
found goes through the "first: while
not eofQ" loop, using x to add up total
expenses due. The function dec — not
available to Archive — is used to line
up the numeric field on the right, for
example, dec — due, decimal places,
width. Reset restores all the files
discarded when using select. As reset

invalidated the order command, we
order the company $ field and vdateS
field.

Proc follup selects all the follow-up
calls to be made in the specified
month. The files are selected through

Archivel has a
serious editing

fault. If you
enter edit with j
18 or moreprocs,

it will crash

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaai

vdate2$ if all the areas are to be
printed but through vdate2$ and
area$ if only one area is to be eovered,
Proc foil then prints out the selected
files. Function monthf) is used tt
change the month from number m
words.

Proc mistake. If a mistake is de-
tected the files will be reset and
reordered because the command
select may have been used, All files
will be reinstated before displaying the
menu.

Proc notes uses the command
search, starting at the first record and
continuing through the file until an
exact match is found for the specified
field. Smith Ltd would therefore not
find Smith Limited, If a mair

continued on pagt X]

Listing four

■ tvl object Ttporl?"

•m Atclii .at I )

lav* "r »piii IS"

' f uppai f nontl, i , a 1 < i„tj» MM

tab 621

«■■•*;

pr oc •

tan aa-sl
andpr oc
p r oc fall

utiii^ti >rllMI WAIT FOR PRINTOUT'
Ipr int tab 23| "FQL t QU yf ".'ISJTS FOR
Ip. int - 19' t a*! Lpi i nt

■CONTACT"
tpiint "BATE't tab l*|'fl*Eft"l tab 32| "CQHRAII ■ - i
Ipr Int : first : w 1 1 i I a not !□( U

Iprint J* 211 ' on2f; " ' 1 9' i ,a#i 2*i tab t£i-

I pi int tab 25 ; c onips n . » I tab !5lcur.t.Ltl
nan t ; *i. Jul, i i a
andpr oc
pr DC lo I 1 up

act icm I "FOLLOW Up CALLS FOR WHICH MOUTH
input J ti I 4 } n>a« I

gat data; mo*: Lat irtQ*-q*: input ir.l. 41" -EAR 19*
if la r »4 ,»#] :z:irilst : a hid if : gat data) /a*
iititi^ci "FOLLOW UP CALLS FOR ALL AREAS ,' fl"
tat imM" 1 ! Hhilt <h|0- . ■ oj f«*aO*M"
lat in*" lo«n I 9* t ( i a ( i I

if + n*-"n" Uc tlOnl "ENTER WHICH AREA TO PPIHT OUT ■
input i nl; 4 I at a* : atidif

>«•«" ~ at ti.|B«- ,, aaaagai "PLEASE WAIT UHILE FILES ARE

SORTED ►
if f i-j»=" " n * : niiLt irttl'uppti l«i ttl and mo ■■£■«■ ma ■

i *

iTh J

>0: or l»i .4ataS*fa: Ipr int "AREA " l uppai

111!

i nk
ink

1* count it

4 3.r a* t I
fell:

print
at i fit

•fid If

i f f «•-- ■

■alact iuoii2*-mo* mt%d *•■ 2M.-M

if eoar.111 iO! Or d«r vd*ta2*| •! f ol 1 1 i

action; 'MO CAl l.S FOR »

pr int 1 n M 4luppcr Imaiitlif . *l ! w o * '' > \

» ; and 14

if count ii-o: pi int (nli *.|« : press Aid kev for menu >

lat i<at-qitlii,l»: andif

I : act I on I "HO CALLS FOR "
4|upflB>l fmontli ( w*t lmo*a i I I
4|« 19'1,«*r AREA - luppir Ur a*} |

19" ) a*l

r-aaat
and I t

at Jap fOnipdr>
end Mh 1 I a

data* I a:

t . i r n

CLASSIC BOOK-KEEPING

By A. G. Clough F.C.A.

A fully flexible, complete Book-keeping system for the 48 K
Spectrum, micfodrives, interface Kempston E or similar.
00 column printer. Suitable for any type Of business or
organisation.

Follows traditional double entry routines from prime entry to
Trial Balance. All records printed as created, tangible and
verifiable. Comprehensive backup. Once only entries.
Written by an experienced Chartered Accountant to help
those with less experience to achieve top grade work, but
equally good for the professional book-keeper.

fifflEFAL LEDGER

SALE5LEDGER

BOUGHT LEDGER

CASH RECEIVED
BANK PAYMENTS

PETTY CASH

SALES DAY BOOK

PURCHASE BOOK
JOURNAL ENTRIES

Traditional
open
A'C formal

Classic cash book
Running balance

Gross, net, analysis

Gate, rel, a'c, code,
gross, VAT, net, SR.
ZR, separate columns

Rel, debit., credit.
analysis, narrative

CAPACITY

SERIES 500 SERIES 250

250 Acs 250 A/c' s
500 A'c 's 250 A/c' s
500 A/c 's 250A'c"s

550 ilems 300 items
550 p.m. 300 p.m.

No practical I mi:

700 invoices 400 p.m.

per
70GnwUh4O0p.m.

Mo practical limit

OTHER FEATURES

interim listing of all prime entries — Multiple coding — Error
prevention and control — Self balancing ledgers —
Management auto run program governs all syntax —
STATEMENTS WITH AGED BALANCES — Journal
entries — Manual with demonstration printout.

PR I CE (Su pplied on t h ree m/d cartridges) Series 500 £69
Postage Paid Series 250 E46

Supplied in three parts (250 Series only)

Part 1 Sales Ledger package £19.90 Postage paid
Part 2 Bought Ledger package £13.90 Postage paid
Part 3 General Ledger package £13.90 Postage paid

The manual, control and service programs are supplied
ONLY with part 1. To be effective, parts must be purchased
in number order.

FREE brief example printout available.

CASH BASIS ACCOUNTS

Based on and closely resembling the 250 Series above but
excluding Sales and Purchase Ledgers, Day Books and
Statements. Suitable for cash based businesses, Personal
accounts, incomplete records. £29 Postage Paid

ANALYSIS

Designed specifically to analyse up to 1,000 items over
1,000 codes. Pre-list if required, intermediate check totals,
printout optional Designed tor 32 column printers, but
works on 80 column.

Price supplied on cassette, Postage Paid £7-50

MANX TAPES, GAREY VEG,

GLEN AULDYN, RAMSEY,

ISLE OF MAN

Telephone: (0624) 813071

4\ A +» Wl>r,d p arP"l*

SLOMO SPEED CONTROLLER . '

SLOW MOTION AND FREEZE FRAME FOR
THE SPECTRUM, CBM 64 AND BBC.

Fully variable control from normal speed down
to virtual standstill + instant freeze

* Higher games scores and improved skills

it invaluably programming aid forde-buggmg,

pin painting problem areas etc- £14.95

if Unique computing aid for education,

occupational therapy, robotics,
machine toot contra! applications, etc.

Wrtri cable and oonriecfOf tor
easy Ming directly mo the
ccmpmer (state which model)

RESET BUTTON & EXTENDER

Resets the system GENTLY without loss ot
power to the computer or peripherals
Sate recovery from microdnve crashes and
£ 4 .95 j -*Uj easy exit from programs or games.

Allows all peripherals to be securely attached to the Spectrum + &
eliminates need to solder reset connections on the + Upgrade

JOYSTICKS

£9.95

FLIGHTLINK

Microswilcried; very
ftght posrtrve action.
Dual independent fire

buttons

QUICK SHOT tl

Popular joystick
with two fire
buttons and
Autolire. £-| Q.95

SLOMO PACESETTERS

TWO NEW INTERFACES FOR THE SPECTRUM, WITH
NIDD VALLEY'S SLOW MOTION CONTROL BUILT IN

Both with orv'oH button and LED lo indicate _^ _ __
stow motion araj fitted wilh through extender

SPECTRUM PACESETTER 1

Kempston compatible with slow motion
control twill in, and through extender

Pacesetter interface £1 4 .95

Pacesetter wrlh joystick £2t~9Q

SPECTRUM PROGRAMMABLE

PACESETTER

Easy lo program - enables ALL games

lo be played with joystick and speed
control by placing the oortlrot keys into
the interface's 1 K memory
Keeps a record ol your games so you
only have to prgram once for each game

Compatible with microdnve and all

popular joysticks.

Supplied wtlh software and instructions.

Programmable Pacesetter £29.95

Programmable *rth joystick Jt " *s

SPECTRUM KC INTERFACE

A. good quality K-empston compatible interlace suitable for ail
popular joysticks. Supplied with or without through extender

Spectrum KC Spectrum KC

with extender £9.95 without extender £6.95

Interlace and joystick ^f7'90 interface and icysbc* J%?-9Q

ORDERING INFORMATION

SLOMO -please specify lor which computer rehired
SPECIAL DEALS - prices apply either to Quickshol II or Flightlmk

Joystick - please specify which type.

Prices include VAT and postage. To order ssnd cheque or PC. payable lo Nkkj
Valley Micro Products Ltd. Id the- address shewn below (no stamp needed) Please
alio* 14 days For delivery - ** do -lol bank your chsque until day of despatch
HONEY BACK GUARANTEE If NOT COMPLETELY SATISFIED

NIDD VALLEY MICRO PRODUCTS LTD

Dept SUA 86 FREEPOST KNARESGOROUGH, N YORKS HG5 flYZ
1^ Telephone: Harrogate (0423) B6448& j

IM LAIR USER Annual 1986

Listing four
continued

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if opl*»»l" op opt**"*" Dt opt*-'4*

print at 24,36 1 r«pt I" ",iqi !i«»iiqilvi»m
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if opt .■»"•.": v i«n: tndit

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ENTER

if let

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g* t . J*t at 1-2*: l»t da2**q*J Input I n*t 41
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ipt int tab ao i "expenses due fpom *i d**i ■/ ■ inufi ■ / j?»i >•*! ■

TO " I

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Ipr Int g«>»l ■ - lidott*! " ' 1 ?" I ,««p *l tab t61 *ia**l

Ipi l p.! t*b 2Sl campiriill

Ipt int tab 681 H'Utc tdua.Z.ei

r**j Archivalll - Ipr Int t*b 681 ~£ " I out

i lat s-s*du»; n*«.t : •nJHtii I*

J print tab 4Br"»™"-'

Ipi int tab 69| "£" I dac d , 2, 9)

rait Apchlvtlll - Ipr int tab 66*1 "f * I *

Ipr int tab 631 •■»■» — «■ : *1*<

action* "NO PETROL EXPENSES DUE FOR THAT PERIOD"

print i**k 41" : PRESS AN 1 . KE- FOR MEIHJ": lat r.o*-<3* t ,i* C > :

QtrJtt eonptriylU, udilttu

audit

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if p+c*- "p" : p«t< al : ittu.n
It picf="t ": taiiup: return
it pfc**'n*inott: iftu'ii

tndpi OC
pr OC ttii t

at p Dl U|ilinnl I at ri-^tii MiJml I I

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Archivi

Archive2 has many
extras that makes

it a must for

serious users, and

has more memory

than Archivel

found the "while found() continue
end while 1 " loop will print out details
of all the matching records.

If you break into the program,
entering: modeO; screen: mistake will
return you to the menu.

To make editing easier, try not to
make your proc lines any wider than
the screen. Never use Hist or 1 print if
a printer is nor attached as Archive
will then crash.

While must always be matched with
end while; all with endall; if with
endif. Each use of while, if or all
moves a procedure two spaces to the
right. The indentation stops when an
endwhUe, endif or endall command is
added, and at the end of the procedure
the endproc must be two spaces from
the dividing line.

Archivel has a serious editing fault
in that, when no work area is display-
ed — mode — and you enter edit
with more than 18 procs, it will crash.

It is good policy to produce backup
copies of all files on a separate cart-
ridge. Do that by replacing the Arc-
hive cartridge and entering backup

"filename—dbr

'mdvl

filename dbf '. As Arc hive 2 will not

overwrite the same name, you must
kill the file in mdvl first.

Archive2 has many extras that
makes it a must for serious users. The
screen editor is more versatile and two
more lines are available for the screen
display. The variables tan be coloured
using the ink and paper commands.
Archivel procs can be run on Archive!
but the designed screens are incom-
patible .

In Archived the screen display de-
termines the number of characters
that can be inserted. Scrolling with
Archivel is considerably slower than
with Archive 2. Procedures can be
Saved, Run, Merged and Loaded with
the option protect, preventing anyone
from listing your procs. Files saved
with the option object — as used in
this program — are given the file

extension pro which makes loading

faster. Many useful new functions
have also been added.

SINCLAIR USER Anrnul }$*■< I \[R

ive

■v

j£

■■

ids .

■ ■-

Graphics Toolkit

TALENT has been setting the standard of QL software for more than

a year. Its major successes include GraphiQL, Cartridge Doctor*

Akul and West. In the summer of 1985 the company's talented

programming team was set the task of producing a professional quality

utility for the Sinclair User Annual.

The Talent Graphics Toolkit is the result of two months hard

work. You can use it to experiment with the new science of Fractals^

which deals with the replication of natural shapes to form landscapes,

rock formations and even buildings. The techniques are similar to

those used by Walt Disney Productions to create Tron. Enter a new

world of computer generated graphics and a new area of

programming.

muat /SgjBNCLUR USER Annul W86

FRACTALS were defined by Mande-
lbrot who conceived and developed 'a
new geometry of nature 1 . Natural
shapes, such as clouds, mountains,
trees » coastlines, exhibit a totally di lie-
rent level of complexity to that of
standard geometric shapes. Fractals
describe many of the fragmented and
irregular patterns found in nature and
the degree of that irregularity is iden-
tical at all levels. For example, a
coastline can be represented on a
large-scale map as a series of bays or
inlets. A more detailed map will reveal
that the bays arc themselves broken
up into smaller bays and indentations.

A simple example of a fractal shape
is die snowflake shown in figure one.
The basic frame is an equilateral
triangle (A). The next shape (B) has
been formed by adding equilateral
triangles, one third of the si>:e of the
original, on the central third of each
side. The same process is repeated in
(C) and can be repeated ad infinitum
until The detail is too fine to see.

TALENT*s fractal program allows
you to choose one of twenty stored
frame shapes or to define your own.
The segment, or method by which
each line is to be modified, can also be
selected from a library of twenty
stored shapes or can be user-defined.
Foully, ihe computer draws the frame
on screen at any level or generation of
complexity you choose.

Program Design

The program has been carefully
engineered, The interlace should
allow you to obtain pleasing results
quickly and easily. You should not
need to understand the basic mathe-
matical concepts. AU help is provided
on-screen and no manual is necessary.

Main Menu — nearly always on

screen. Options are highlighted in which returns you to the main menu,
turn by using the cursor keys and Segment Window — always on
selected with Space. When an option screen. This window displays the cur-
is chosen, a drop-down sub-menu is rent segment selected out of a library
displayed. of 20. The first 10 of those are
Sub-Menu — brought down when defined. The remainder are stored js
an option is chosen. Options are straight lines which can be picked up
selected in turn with the Space key.
All sub- menus have an ESCape option

Graphics Toolkit g

and edited to become any shape you
wish.

Frame Window — the same as
segment window. Displays the current
frame selected from ihe frame library.
The first 10 are defined, the remain-
der can be edited in the same way as

'0- W

'Vn

( .-v -

U ■

Hw.

C£

/TV..

segments.

Input/Error. Message Window —
this window is used when input is
required — filenames. It will also
display errors and other messages.

Summary of
functions

After Segments .Frames

On-screen edit — used to change
the segment or frame on-screen. After
the segment/frame is drawn, you move
the cursor to a point on the line. Then
pick up the point and pull it to a new
position using the cursor keys. The
space bar is used to register the
change. That is useful for specifying
irregular shapes.

Numerical data — you are asked to
input a series of numbers-distance,
angle- to specify the segment or frame.
That is useful for specifying regular
shapes. Distance is scaled prop-
ortionately, for example, a standard
length for the frame is 50 and for the
segment, 10, The angles start at
degrees and work clockwise — ■ 90
degrees, 180 degrees, 270 degrees and
back to degrees.
Change Segment Frame

The current segment or frame is
changed to another in store — 1-20.
Draw Fractal

When this item is specified on the
main menu, the sub-menu will ask for
various data which you must enter as
numbers on the keyboard. The op-
tions are mode* paper, ink, x co-
ordinate, y co-ordinate, depth and
scale.

Permanent Store

Format device will format a specified
device.

Directory device will give a directory
of the specified device.

Save fractals will save the present
store arrays.

Load fractals will load the store
arrays.

Additional
information

Occasionally values — paper, ink —
must be entered in the input window.
The default value — printed in brack-
ets after the option — is printed first.
If that is to be changed^ it must first be
erased using the Sinclair erase sequ-
ence of CTRL and back arrow. Then
the new value must be typed in,
followed by ENTER.

An error message will be generated
if a segment is 'closed' — the start and
end point are put in the same place. If
the start and end point of a segment
are too close together, the segmeni
will not fu into the window. It will
also run off the main fractal drawing
screen. It should be changed using the
on-screen edit to make it fit.

Talent Computer Systems will be
happy to supply copies of this prog-
ram on request. Send a formatted
microdrive cartridge, name and
address and £1 .50 handling charge to
Talent Computer Systems, Gurran
Building, 10] St James Road, Glas-
gow G4 ONS.

2U0

1000

FOR a- 3 TO B

:open pa, acrsCL

OSE

1010

TOR a-0 TO 2

1 PAPER 0a.,

0: BOP

L fch

ra. D

1020

MODE 11: INK 7

: CSI2E 3. 1

iPRIN

T "Fl«a*e wait.

Settlni fp»cta

1 data, "

1030

1 n i t_mal n : ma

in.ierHDi

loco

1040

RE Peat far-aver

1050

eelect_opti

on 1.3,1,6

. mpoa

. 1 . -

L : m_Be 1 -se 1 ec

t ion

1O60

puii_m*nu m

„*•!

1070

aelec tl on-

: a e vn - 3

10BO

REPeat auti_

1090

sail- eelec

tion-1

1100

IF levim;

THEN Bell-

-1

Ilia

•eiect^optlon 0,6,0,

max, b

election. 0,4*11

1120

IF »l*Ctl

Or.-O THEN

EXIT

flut>_m»rvu

1130

IF *n_Bel-0

11*0

3RL«Ct OK

•alactlcn

'■IV

-1

1 1 60

*ait_a:

Hcrn-2

1 1 7

-2

nflo

ae-t sea

,4*t»i icrn

-2

1190 END SELect

1200 END IF

1210 IF m_sel-l

1220 SELect ON selection

1330 -1

121D edit_ft»exn-2

1250 -3

L20O £et_/rit_aatt;acrii>i

1270 END SELBJCt

1260 END IF

1290 IF m_ael-3

1300 SELect ON selection

13JO -1

i"j£D chooi*_i«ctBcrn'l

i33a -a

i3in e_v*i pr»B_B#a,2

13SO IF irkPUt_*>20 THEN inp

ut_|=sreB_aea

1360 preB_aea-lnput_t

1370 chanjejej pres.ltli di

ip_B«I preo.BEE : bcit-ei-I

13S0 END SELect

1390 END IF

1400 IF m_sel-3

liHO SELect OH «#l*Ctlon

1420 -1

1130 chooHs.fm: scrn-l

iaao -2

16150 i_vb1 prea_fif>m 1 S

Hi 60 IF input_»>20 THEN lnp

ut_t«pr«i_rrni

111 70 prBB_frm«lnput_I

14S0 chana;e_frm pres^rrBii dl

ap_frm prefl_!rm:Bcrn-l

1490 END SELect

1500 END IF

1510 IF m_Bel»tl

1520 SELect ON selection

1530 -1

tf»*0 drtM^fracttlt icrn*2

1553 -2

L&6C IF mod*„-a THEN moda_-

6; ELSE node_-t

1570 UPDATE_FRACTAL_HENU a*

lection, mo d e_ : s c rn ■

1 ! Bfl -3,

1590 a_v*l p*pet-_., 3

1600 IF lnput_*>255 THEN In

pu t_t - papar_

1610 paper_™input_t

1620 UPDATE_FRACTAL_MEH1J a*

Itetlort. paper_: acrn-1

3.630 -1

loiio t_v»i inK_,3

1650 IF lnput_t>255 THEN in

pui_t- lnk_

1660 ink_-lnput_t

1670 UPDATE_FRACTAL_MENU 11

lection, lFiH_ncrn-l

1660 -5

1690 t_vil x_coord, 3: x_coar

d-input_i

*_val deptn„, 2id*pth_-

tlP0ATE_FRACTAL_MENU **
depth_: Bcrn-1
-fl
t£_vel lc»lB_,3;se»l*_.

UFDATE_FHACTAL_JMENtf B*
■crn-1 t dl*p_Frnj p

1700 UFDATE_FRACTAL_MENU Be

lection, K_coor«t: Bcm-1 : dlap_rrw

preo_fi>m

1710 -6

1-7 20 «_v»l y_coord. 3: y_coer

a- lnput_t

17 30 UFDATE_FRACTAL_MENU ee

Hetlon, y_cooi>a: iern-1: dlBp_frm

pP*i_frm

1740 -7

1750

lnput_*

1760

laet ion

1770

17S0

i n pu t_t

1790

lection, scale

fm*_r rn

I 10fl END SELttt

lftlO END IF

18.20 IF m_««l-5

1630 SELect ON itltetlon

leio -i

IS 50 dlr*ctory:acrn-Z
i860 -2

1&70 forn»t_divlce: «crn-l
loSO -3

1890 fi*v»_frsctala: acrh-1

1900 -H

1910 lo»S_f ractals : acrn-1

1920 END SELect

1930 END IF

1940 IF acrn-1 THEN logo

19 50 IF Bcrn.S THEN raaln.scree
n : lojfo : pu 1 l_nanu m_Bel

I960 END REP**t EMJti_m*nu

1970 pulhjnenu

1990 END REPeat forever

1990 :

2000 DEFlne PHOCedupa 10b;d

20 io prompt: l , 0: prompt 10,1

2020 END DEFine loto

2030 )

2DilQ DEFlne PRocedur* jj_val tflaf

■ult.f^lth )

2050 command: prompt B,0s_input

S, 0, 10 , jf_l*n, default, 1, 1

2060 END DEFlne g_vai

2070 :

2O80 DEFlne PROCidure naln.lcree

OPEN #T3 , aer_51 2x2 Joaoxo
PAPER #3,7,0. 1: CLE #3fCLQS

2130 raain_ri«nu ; command
2100 OPEN #1, Bcr_(133x200a36KlS

2150 END DEFlne m*ln_Bcreen

2160 :

2170 DEFlne PAOCeOure pull^niinu
{no>

Local a, option, ■», depth

RfcSTOAE no*10*1000Q

OPEN #&. Bci-_20Q.*92a3fi}cl2Q

OPEN #6, ecr_?aoxlta36*131

PAPER #5.2* INK #5,

PAPER vtf£.0:IWK #p,?<CSIZE

2iao
2190

22.DO
2210
2220
2230
*6. 1 ,

sz«o

2250

5. 2,
2260
22 7
22&0
Z2 90

2090
2100
e #3
2110
2120

ffin»_Mlndow pl , sa_f i-m
t*tnient_Hlndaw pres_ae(t

dipth.a : read title*

AT #5.0.0:CLS #5,3:CSIEE #

PRINT F5; titia*

READ Option

FOR a-1 TO option
<depth-d*pth+10
WINDOW #6, 200, depth, 36, 12
9S BOHDEA #6 ,2,2

2300 AT a6,a-l,0;CLS #6,3:SCHO
LL #4,10

2310 READ at: at-" "&a*

2 330 AT #6; 0.O: PRINT wb ; at

233° END FOR a
2340 m.»K-optlon
2350 END DEFlne pull_j»enu
2.360 :

2370 DEFln* PROCedur* puah.manu
?380 LOCal a

239C OPEN #6, Ber_200x92*36xl31:
PAPER #6,7.0,1

2ilOD FOR a-1 TO 10:SCROLL #6,-1

ZillO CLOSE #6
2ft20 END DEFlne puBh_BHanu
2*30 r

2440 DEFlne FRQCedure Btfr>*nt_wl
ndau intt)

ZU5Q OPEN iV(l.aer_22 0x94*2 Uok 16
2460 PAPER jfil.il: INK #4.0iCLS #4
:CSIZF #4,2,0

21170 PRINT #tlf* SEOMEHT p : no

2ftfi0 WINDOW tfH. 213, SO. 252. 39, PA
PER #dl,0sINK #4,7
2tl9D diap_aeK pres.sei
35-00 RND DEFlne aainant.ulndnu
2510 1

2520 DEFlne PROCedura ffini.nlnd
o»* Ino)

2530 OPEN #7. acr_220H9Ua2ilBxl20
2540 PAPER #7, 4: INK #7,0:CSIZE
If?, 2, 0: CLS tf7

2550 PRINT #7: • FRAME » t no

2^60 WINDOW #7. 213. flO, 252, 131: P
APER 07, O: INK 07 . 7
3570 dlap_frw preB_frm
253o END DEFlna r rame_wl ndow

coniinued rm page 97

SINCLAIR USHR Annual J 9

Adventure

THE WORLD of Gordo Greatbeily comprises many strange lands in

which can be found the solutions to all adventure games.
After a long search } large amounts of Liquor and a little bribery, Gordo
has been able to convince a local artist to produce a map of those lands,

giving away just a few of their secrets in the process.

Back in the United Kingdom Richard Price provides a more down to

earth look at the best adventures of 1985 and forecasts the

trends of 1986.

, J SB* I AIR USER Annual 1986

faTaJ

stvew leitJUieA^ice^

Maru

The Dancing Ogre: Greatbelfy*s
home base. A rambling fortified inn at
the centre of the high F,shak plateau,
Barned five stars in Nogi Yanor\
'Guide it* Good Adventuring 1 .

Temple of Ithukk; Centre of the cult
of the Great Moon Goddess til" the
Northlands, Her priestesses are re-
nowned lor their savagery.
Colossus of Sinclair: The Red God of
the North. Legend has ii that he was
devoured by Maksu-Elawun., the
Smoking Mirror, Others say he
jumped too high and is now a con-
stellation.

Urunnar Swamps: Maru's northern
frontier and home of the anthropopha-
gous Snake Men.

l.'rtuun: Along with Kurtuun.
AmdruuD and others, one of the great
garrison posts of the empire.
The Empty Place: Waterless desert
barrier pro tee ting the irrigated plain
i»| Maru.

Maru: Desert capital of the empire.
Currently ruled by Janga Abn-
Jangara, Consort of Mar, who is the
Goddess of torn and water. Maru's
wealth comes mainly from the silk and
spiee trades,

Braco's Tower: Commandery of the
Brothers of The Axe — a guild of
mercenaries and assassins.
Oasis of the Dream: The place where
ali CoilSOftS of Mar slay during the
month when they are to be united with
the Goddess — ritually sacrificed.
City of Tents: The summer gathering
place oi the Eastern Barbarians. T heir
current Horse Lord is Malnach,
Keeper Ol the Sacred Skull.

Ketland

The Cartographer: A map will be
provided for a favour. Chopping and
changing will warm his heart.
The Mall in Mint Condition: Waving
your wand and uttering a spell of
miniy holiness will open new vistas.
The Dog: 11 fed and suitably res-
trained this beasi will drive away
thieving rats and save your treasures.

The Slime Room: Waste no time

here.

The Guardians: If a =26 then z=L

Artie Lands

■

The Plateau and Crevasse: A

draught of elixir will allow you to go
smith, but not with more than five
items carried. Headgear here.
Dragon: Can be deterred hy a libation
of oil.

The Skull Gate: May be passed only
when fully clothed as A wizard.
Elephant; Offer, but don't give, some

PLANET OF DEATH
The Old House: Its rotten floor will
help you cross thin air.
Ravine: Beyond here lies a hut where
protection may be found.
Cavern of the Green Man; This
creature may be got, dropped and
then destroyed. He has no attractive
characteristics but his mirror does,
Laser: If held back by a force field,
firing this twice followed by impromp-
tu dancing should see you through.
The Lift Controls; 321 may help you
enter your goal. Four may gel you a

Quest for
adventure

Breaking his journey to refresh at an
inn, Gordo Greatbelly puts quill to
parchment to relate his travels and
offer cryptic clues to those who follow

cupboard love. The beast will follow
you, becoming a suitable hitching post
when fed in the right place.
Quicksand: Fire an arrow with rope

rise — a welcome lift.
ESPIONAGE ISLAND

The Clearing: The dark bundle is
your chute.

The Wreckage: Examining a dark
corner will provide currency to buy a
weapon — useful against guards.
The Stitched Swamp: Stitched is
sewn. Initially this word is directional .
The Control Hut: A socket for explo-
sives and a switch to detonate. Take
care!

The Helicopter: A straight southern
route will bring disaster. Be devious

attached. That should get you into the
swing of things! The gear resides in a
high hole.

EN Monster: A useful beast if you
follow us directions through a hall —
but fatal if attacked.
The Oak Door; First fill its gap, then
retire into a cubbv hole. Waiting six
times here will demolish the obstacle.
The Morgue: Home of the dead who
are undcad. Delphia will be discour-
aged from wandering by a clove.

SINCLAIR USER Annual

Adventure Key

and go round -about.

INCA CURSE

The Temple: Smp a branch of leaves

to make a tool for breaking and

entering.

The Fire Room: Blankets are useful

for dousing flames.

The Right Possessions: A ring, a

rope and two coloured stones.

EYE OF BAIN

The Bees: A net loss should prow a

net gain.

The Beast in the Well: Read your
ruby. Saying the name of the stone's
element will quell the beast.

Ramjamia — Land
of Valkyrie 17.

The Hotel: Escape is impossible from
here unless yuu have First entered the
room aliing the ledge and read a useful
book-

Metbournia

HAMPSTEAD

The Industrial Estate: Great status
mav he gained from the treasure
hidden here. Map carefully by drop-
ping some possessions.
The Park Bench: Rest is not the only
thing of worth in that place. Access to
greater things can be yours.
The Club: If you are tied up right and
suitably attired you will be given an
introduction you can bank on,
Covenl Garden: Here be Pippa. She
can he got easily enough if you have a
home to go to.

Chubby's Mansion: Knightly hon-
ours may be yours if you meet Chub-
by. Request his daughter's hand and

The Ski Hut: Examine this picture
carefully. A journey in ihe snow is
impossible without the aid of what is
lying here.

The Butcher: To obtain the lamb,
offer him some radioactive isotope —
the rays are shielded by lead but he
proves too inquisitive.
The Surveillance Camera: This eye
can be hlinded easily enough. An
aerosol will provide ihe medium.
The Lake and Telescope: Look
back, front and all around. A taxi's
destination will then be revealed.

The Skeleton: Anything inghieued
by stones or pebbles cannot be as
fearsome as vou think.
URBAN UPSTART
The Dustbins: People throw away the
strangest things — very much to your
advantage.

The Police Station: Sustaining your-
self with food or drink may result in a

=r=3=S£S555S=5=s

Varia

THE HOBBIT

The Goblin's Dungeon: Ask a friend
to open a window . Get him to pick you
up and take you through.
The Elven King's Barrels: Throw
them in first and then get in. Other-
wise vou will alwavs be caught
BORED OF THE RINGS
The Engulfing Trees: If you need it
why not call for help — mad Tim is
initj trees, man.

then betray your boss by leaking

documents,
SHERLOCK

The Opium Den: In this place of sin
the Major may be found. His inno-
cence may only be proved by telling
Lesurade of the soldier's visit to that
terrible place. Be swift — two minutes
are all you have.

Basil's House: Basil is in residence on
Tuesday or Wednesday. Enter steal-
thily at the rear — but look first to see
if Basil sleeps. Beware it not!
Big Ben; The game will finish at 1.02
am on Tuesday unless you can prove
the Major's innocence. Les trade will
consider him guilty and will arrest.

■

nght Hind
man 1.1
p Ltqui .

SBf j n;;::£3SE2S8SEi!S8E£SSBSHEtaS
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Thfoush c«'ridon that ni»l' »nd

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flts you U4flt U do Hi

welcome journey.
The Town Hall: Red tape and
bureaucracy go well together. Make
sure you are well supplied.
TIR NA NOG

The Guardian Serpent; Unite the
severed halves of a precious ornament.
Thus you become invisible and remain
unsinged.

The Stag: Be not misled. Antlers are
the Crown of the Horned God Cernos.
He has no need of gaudy metal.
The Giant Rat: In a Dungeon Adven-
ture. Those creatures detest rancid
chips — who does not?
The Grating: In the Colossal Adven-
ture this may be unlocked with a key
found in a building. In an Adventure
Quest though, the grate is of no use at
all — a relic of quests past.

The Gates of Morona: Drop some
spice to cause a stir- Look carefully at
Featherwop to find this irritant.
THE LORDS OF TIME

The Temple of Mercury: Appropri-
ate devotion to the god should call up
winged helpers — handy in a scene of
strife.

Vou ar* at tht Ch*t**u tntrinct
tiivr* is a detp nurky noit that
Nil f rounds thl Chit?«u. It is
crpssed fay a Itrgt stone bintif
Sono trackf lead bach into the
fortit .

fro you want to

AIR USER Annual 1986

Mai I Order Beyond 3rd Floor, LectqrCourt. 151 Farrinpdon Road, London EClR 3AD
Price £9 95 ire, P&P Cheques/POs payable to B*yond . Credit cards call 01 -837 2899.

>£.

Adventure =

Best of '85

Pit your wits against the odds and
pursue the road to adventure. Richard
Price looks at the pick of the crop

THE HITCH HIKER'S Guide to the
Galaxy, in its instructive and engaging
way, offers words of great solace to
those unfortunates who find them-
selves "stuck in a crack in the ground
underneath a giant boulder you can't
move, with no hope of rescue." Help-
fully it suggests such travellers should
"consider how lucky you are that life
has been good to you so far."

If you're a computer adventurer,
wherever you happen to be stuck,
entombed, imprisoned, surrounded or
just plain lost, much the same applies.
You've never had it so good and all
the signs show that it might get even
better yet.

Many years ago, in the age of the
mainframe dinosaurs, adventure was a
new species, hiding behind the vast
bulks of scientific or business prog-
rams and only corning out at night
when the monsters were at rest. Then
the great beasts died out and adven-
ture evolved and mutated into many
branches. That fast evolution has
given players a huge variety of choice.

The choice is large, mainly because
adventures tend not to be flash-in-the-
pan. The good ones stick around and
develop fallowings, unlike most
arcade games which often disappear
after only a few weeks' prominence on
the shelves. Thanks to the The Quill
and its graphic back-up, The Illustra-
tor, the amateur games designer also

has the chance to break into the
market, and even be successful in a
small way. You can't do that with
arcade games anymore.

The Quill boom has allowed indi-
viduals and small companies to get
their fantasies down on tape and into
the shops. There is no need for a vast
knowledge of code programming, or
teams of expensive brains working on
even more expensive machinery.

Over the past year there has been a
steady stream of games like those
— the most notable success
being Hampstead, hack

/litiw, a itene from
Bored of the
Rings. Right,
Melt S.

ed as it was by the big guns of
Melbourne House, Delta 4 produced
this year's classic spoof in the shape of
Bored of the Rings, a genial and
sick-humoured lampoon of Tolkien's
vast fantasy — showing clearly that
there is still room for young enthusias-
tic games programmers.

Although the big houses lend to
charge quite high prices, even for
Quilled games, they tend to be less
expensive than tailor made programs.
Those may not always be more than
moderately difficult but they do repre-
sent real value for money , and their
programmers will take risks with the
quirky plots and picaresque humour.
That is a great bonus as there is far ux>
Little knockabout fun in many df the
huge and desperately serious profes-
sional productions. If you're a dedi-
cated adventurer it's always worth
keeping one eye on the smaJJ adver-
tisements for games like those.

Connoisseurs will still go for the big
vintages — large text games, more
often than not, supported by location
graphics. As usual, Level 9 seems to
be the frontrunrier and has brought
out no less than four polished adven-
tures since last year's annual. All those
new games feature graphics but,
thanks to the techniques of text com-
pression used by Level 9, the text and
problems have not been too badly
affected. It is really quite staggering to
think how much can be squeezed into
your 48 K Spectrum.

Erik the Viking takes you on an
odyssey through the icy north-
ern seas — and is based
Terry Jones'
book. The

graphics

SINCLAIR USER Annual 1986

are evocative and there is an air
of mystery and uncharted waters in
the presentation. If you want to follow
up on their earlier adventures like
Snowball, you could do worse than
try Return to Eden where a complex,
unexplored planet mutates bizarrely as
you winder.

My own two favourites are Red
Moon and Emerald Isle. The first
contains a vast magical world, based
loosely on the Runequest roleplaying
system. Your aim is to recover the
stolen moon crystal, and your anta-
gonists are powerful mages seduced by
the forces of evil. There are hit points,
combat routines and it is possible to
cast a variety of spells to counter
superhuman and supernatural foes.
There is a iarge amount of detail and a
convincing atmosphere.

Emerald Isle strands you on a
desert isle with a difference. Instead of
the usual cluster of native huts and
palm trees you'll find a complicated
civilisation. Yon are expected to push
your way up through the social struc-
ture to survive and escape.

These days it is unusual to see large
scale text -only games — even from
Level 9 — and the Quilled games

don't have the same sophistication as
cusinm-built compressed programs,
That makes Mordon's Quest from
Melbourne House something of a rar-
ity. In this time-travelling game your
aim is to wander through the ages
retrieving the scattered parts of an
immortality machine. The plot is
admittedly rather old hat bui the
descriptions are excellent, fleshing out
the storyline considerably. No space at
all is wasted on graphics.

The traditional text game has its
benefits but graphics have caught on
in a big way. Animated games have
become the biggest sensation of the
year. Whatever your feelings about
them, games like Knight Lore and
Dragonlorc have brought slick, classy
moving pictures into the service of
adventure.

My own view is that animated
graphic adventures can never quite
replace text — mainly because text
ensures that you must use your im-
agination. No matter how good the
pictures, they probably won't have the
same breadth as your own mind.

Despite that, the 3D effect and
rcaciiog environment of Knight Lore
and its cousins gives you a strong

sense of involvement. They use a lot of
old adventure techniques such as ex-
perimentation with objects and other
logical puzzles. The complexity of the
graphics uses up an awful lot of
precious RAM and it's hard to see how
much further they can be taken.

Alien 8, the follow up to Knight
Lore, disappointed many players be-
cause of its similarity — pushing bits
of a room around and timing moves to
avoid obstacles is ail very well, bur it
does have serious limitations.

There are only two animated games
which, at least in my book, transcend
all those objections. Tir Na Nog and
Dun Darach, both from Gargoyle, are
complete adventures.

Both games have realistic settings
with a convincingly human central
character — the hero Cuchullain.
Both quests include a number of
sub-quests and diversions and there
are other characters who go about
their own business. Cuchullain must
not only use objects but must solve
codes, logical problems and, at times,
theological questions. Connections
can be obscure and there is no straight
progression from one task to another.
The games present you with an entire

SINCLAIR USER Annual! m

world — you must explore and get to
know it well before you can even hope
to reach a solution. You might even
have to go to the library to find out
more about Irish mythology!

Dun Darach — the most recent —
[feces Luchullain in a tortuous
medieval city filled with shops,
houses, temples and castles. The au-
thors have set out to create a visual
representation of places like Fritz
Leiber's Lankhmar — and have been
very successful, If you buy only a few
tames make sure this is one of them.

Since the Apple Mac came along,
just about everyone has oohed and
ahhed over its icon driven systems.
Games designers were quick to see
die potential for simply operated and
visually attractive layouts.

Shadu wfire and The Fourth Pro-
tocol are both controlled by icons.
Shado wfire uses no text input at all
and, although highly complex and
sophisticated, it is essentially a
strategy game. Its atmosphere is
generated by high quality visuals and a
set time limit. That high tech style is
perfect for the setting where, in some
Ratably distant future, you must free
a diplomat from an evil general's

dutches by

stealth, guile and violence. There are
definite echoes of Beyond's other big
hit, Lords of Midnight.

The Fourth Protocol is different.
The game is split into three parts, two
of which use an icon system. Many
functions can be carried out by using
only two or three keys and textual
information, filing, telephone calls
and manpower allocation can be hand-
led with great ease. The simple man-
ipulation of fairly complex material
draws you ever deeper into the play —
mainly because it's such fun to oper-
ate. It is all too easy to forget that you
are there to catch traitors and locate
bombs as you zip through the files or
sort out codes.

It is always difficult to predict how
things will develop over the next year.

Lett and below, Tir Na Nog mid Dub Darach,
.l(*nr, (jbudwwttrc, righi /"Are
Fourth Protocol

Graphics
are going to play a much greater
part in games with an adventure for-
mat. If I were a betting man, I'd be
prepared to put a few bob on icon
systems achieving some prominence in
the field. When I first started playing
adventures on the Spectrum, I never
imagined the transformation in pre
sentation that would occur over a very
short period.

Adventurers and arcade freaks are
often seen as incompatible groups,
scornful of the other's enthusiasms.
Icon driven text systems, combined
with high quality animation should go
a long way to bringing the two sides
together.

The new peripherals offering 64K
RAM in a games package may be just
the vehicle to achieve such a miracle.
Wait and sec. In the meantime, travel
a bit and savour the exotic landscapes
and faraway worlds of adventure.
Whether you prefer text or graphics

is unimportant — there's something

>ui there to suit everyone.

SINCLAIR SPECTRUM

SPELLBOUND

STARBIKE

KOKOTONI WOLF

THE PYRAMID

HORACE GOES SKIING

GILLIGANSGOLD

ANT ATTACK

3D TANK DUEL

JACK & THE BEANSTALK

SORCERY

BEYOND

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ELITE

FANTASY

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SIM

**5^r

Software Scene

Our expert team of writers bring you the highlights of last yearns

software releases. Did Jet Set Willy II find favour with the public,

which were the best icon driven games, how can a computer help you

to forecast the weather, and is there a good machine code assembler

available for the QL? All those questions are answered,

along with many more.
Clare Edgeley Finds that sport has dominated the arcade action, while
Chris Bourne finds fly fishing on the Spectrum is tedious and John

Gilbert finds that utility manufacturers prefer the QL,

A guide to the latest business software is provided by Mike "Wright

and Mike Johnston, and education is the subject from Theo Wood.

Last but not least we parade the turkeys of the year and give our

awards for outstanding awfulness and cruelty to software.

SINC L AIR U S E R Annual 1^86

C~i

WATCH

— 1

■

Wit* ■ |p, » P

p - * . - ., > r {J i i

MlNin^|

"What makes the game is the graphics - large, witty,
bizarre and beautifully animated . . . each screen has
something remarkable, and horribly difficult puzzles
. . . Dynamite Dan is not just another Miner surrogate
and is at least as essential to your collection."
Popular Computing Weekly.

48K Spectrum/Spectrum + £6.95

p opu/ar
Weekly

Maxwell House, Worship Street, London EC2A2EN. Tel 01-377 4600
Trade orders to: Purnell Book Centre, Paul ton, Bristol B518 5LQ. Tel 0761 413301

SIN

Arcade

lenso

Clare Edgeley blasts her way through
a wealth of challenging software

GET FIT QUICK just about sums up
the last 12 months. 1985 has seen
enough sports games to put you off
doing anything more strenuous than
lifting a pint glass, at least for the next
year.

Since the 1984 Olympics , we have
competed in every imaginable sport:
played footie with Bobby Charlton,
run rings round Daley Thompson and
been KO'd by big Frank . . . There is
hardly an action sport left which has
hoc been turned into a money spinner,
with a sportsman's name attached.
What is wrong with Tessa Sanderson's
Javelin anyway?

Daley Thompson's Decathlon was
first to the tape back in November ! 84
and notched up a gold for Ocean when
it jumped to number one in the charts
for a few weeks. You have to compete
in all ten events of the decathlon,
taking part in the high jump, long
jump and pole vault as well as track
events, The 400m is the most gruell-
ing and to keep up speed you must
pump the joystick back and forth,
which may result in a touch of cramp.
The graphics are colourful and the
game does give a taste of the real
thing.

Melbourne House also attempted a
compilation of events with Sports
Hero, although ii was nowhere near as
successful as Daley Thompson.
Sports Hero has you competing in
four events - 100m sprint, long jump,
1 1 Dm hurdles and the pole vault, over
three difficulty levels. To gain speed
you must pummel the run button and
press the jump button before takeoff.
Aching fingers seem to be the norm in
that type of game and in many cases
you will end up with a sick keyboard
as well. There is no sound and the
graphics are not fantastic, although
the scrolling background is interest-
ing, A few more events should have
been possible.

More recently, Brian Jacks 1 Super-
star Challenge from Martech reached
the top ten, although it came a poor
second to Imagines Hypers ports.
Both contain a weird hotch-potch of
events - some interesting, others bor-
ing. Brian Jacks gives you a pretty raw

deal. For £7.95 you can immerse
yourself in such exciting events as
squat thrusts and arm dips. Those
may be thrilling to watch on TV but
on computer they are about as much
fun as a wet blanket.

Hypersports is a different ball game
altogether. Licensed from the arcade
game of the same name, the computer
version is very like the original, al-
though some events lack imagination.
When swimming - or floundering, if
you forget to breathe - instead of tear-
ing down to the end of the pool, the
end moves towards you. Clay pigeon
shooting is certainly one of the better
events, in which you must shoot the
skeets through automatically moving
sights. The vault is tricky and rather
than vaulting as far as possible from
the horse, you are likely to end up on
your head beside it. The graphics are
generally thought to be more profes-
sional than Daley Thompson's: De-
cathlon, though whether the game is
better is a moot point,

Jonah Barring ton's Squash from
New Generation is an interesting con-
cept which seems to have fallen Hat
Knock a miniscule black ball round
the 3D court and try to beat Jonah at
his own game. Jonah is one of Bri-
tain's leading squash players. Much
was made of the fact that a taped
recording of Jonah's voice calls out the
scores. Unfortunately, all you get is an
unintelligible gabble and it is easier to
read them on the score board anyway.
We awarded Imagine's World
Series Baseball three stars m the June
issue, which just goes to show that our
forecasts are not always spot on. In
June, July and August it remained at
number three in the charts, only
dropping to eleventh place in
September.

The game opens with a traditional
rendering of the ^American National
Anthem. Then play starts, with one
team pitching and the other batting.
You can play with a friend or against
the computer, adjusting the speed and
direction of the ball when pitching and
the strength and lift of your swing
when batting. Loving attention has
been paid to detail with a large

CHOLf**

(JF

SINCLAIR USER Annual 19S6

= A

scoreboard displaying genuine adverts
between innings.

Last, but not least, boxing - the
sport for ugly mugs. Cauliflower ears
and battered brains are only half the
fun - just think what you can do to
your opponent, A few months ago
three games were released simul-
taneously on the back of Punch Out!!,
a highly successful arcade game.

Elite's Frank Bruno's Boxing
knocks Roccd and Knockout for six,
and is easily the most playable and
realistic, offering more possible moves
and a greater number of competitors
than either of the other games. It is
also the only boxing game featuring a
sporting personality - Bruno helped in
an advisory capacity during produc-
tion which explains the close attention
to detail.

Gremlin Graphic's Roceo squares
up well in the ring, though you will
find it is not as easy to dodge your
opponent as it is in Frank Bruno, and
there are only three competitors. The
scoring system is simple and the
graphics are the clearest of the three
games. It is worth playing and annihi-
lates Alligata's Knockout in the ring.
Knockout is appalling and Jacks
any addictive qualities. It is the only
game which uses colour - the others
being mono - although that could
have been sacrificed for extra payabil-
ity. Other than left and right punches
to the body and head, there is no
facility for ducking and dodging, but
at least you can amble away if the
going gets too rough. You tend to
spend a great deal of time seeing stars
after being KOU At least it lives up
to its name.

The legendary success of Manic
Miner and Jet Set Willy lives on.
Platform and ladders games are still
the rage and dozens of versions have
landed in the Sinclair User offices over
the last 12 months. Two years ago
Manic Miner was a sure recipe for
success, and because it was ahead of
its time a lot of money was made.
Programming techniques are now
more sophisticated and with games
like Alien 8 and Spy vs Spy around,
who needs a Manic Miner spin-off?

However, they are here to stay and
some at least are worth the money you
pay for them. One of the more suc-
cessful games is Strange loop, released
late in '84, which has gone a long way
to repairing the damage done to Virgin
by Sheepwalk - one of its earliest and
most awful games,

A half-crazy computer is the source

of all your troubles in Strangeloop
and, playing the pan of a metagalactic
repairman, you must shut it down.
There are over 240 rooms filled with
lethal swarf which attacks and dam-
ages your space suit. A jetbike waits
somewhere and will make your task
easier but you have to locate and refuel
it first. Objects picked up will help
with various tasks and friendly robots
will patch your torn suit. The graphics
are colourful and simple and there is
even a facility for saving your position
on tape, to be resumed later when you
have recharged your batteries.

Jet Set Willy II is the biggest rip-off
of them all as Software Projects has
done little other than add about 70
extra screens to the original. Essential-
ly it is the same as Jet Set Willy which
was launched back in 1984. The plot is
similar; clear up the house before
going to bed and avoid the hundreds
of lethal ihingurnmies found in each
room. Despite being little more than a
re-release, jet Set Willy II is currently
doing very well in the charts.

Despite the lack of original thought,
if you are still hooked on the challenge
of platform and ladders, try The
Edge's Brian Blood axe A loopy game
it ever there was one. Brian, a viking
soldier has been trapped in a block of
ice for centuries, and as it thaws, he
leaps out shivering, but ready to
conquer the British. Flapping loo
seats, deadly ducks and mad Scotsmen
are a few of the dangers that lurk on
each level. Objects to collect and
chasms to be leapt add to his daunting
task. Brian Blood axe is at least as
good as Jet Set Willy, wuh much
visual humour and bright, clear
graphics.

Hewson Consultants, which has
made a name for itself in recent
months with arcade adventures such
as Dragon to re and simulations like
Heathrow ATC, must have had a
brain storm late last year with Techni-
cian Ted, which is totally unlike the
semi -serious games released since.
Guide Ted around a silicon chip fac-
tory while looking for a plate of the
real things. Pick up knives, forks and
other necessary implements and avoid
several nasty traps. Easy to play and
reasonably addictive, Technician Ted
is not one of Hewson 's best games but
has done quite well in the platform
and ladders stakes.

Artie's Mutant Monty is more
sophisticated than Technician Ted
and includes some extremely tricky
screens requiring split second timing -

SINCLAIR USER Anamt 1986

Arcade action

if you are slightly out, a lemon or some
other incongruous object will squash
you flat, and then where will the
beautiful maiden be? It is a constant
source of amusement that so much
work goes into preparing intricate
siory lines bearing absolutely no re-
semblance tu the game you are
playing.

On die whole rip-offs are uniformly
mediocre in standard and not the sort
of game you would buy for lasting
play ability. Real fanatics will find
Activision's Toy Bizarre and Mic-
romega's Jasper a doddle, and prob-
ably have more fun playing blindfold
with their hands tied behind their
backs. Both games are average and
employ run-of-the-mill graphics. In
Toy Bizarre, the player leaps round
the levels of a toy factory popping
balloons while being chased by a gang
of irate toys.

Meanwhile, in Jasper much the
same thing is going on, only this time
you are a furry rat collecting money
bags and treasure chests while avoid-
ing furry cats, rabbits and other hairy
animals. Platform games are usually
fast moving and it is generally easier to
keep up with ihe pace using a joystick.
Unless you have very strong fingers,
Jasper is doomed as your only option
is to use the Spectrum's sticky
keyboard.

Arcade adventures have come into
their own in recent months, some
remaining for weeks at a time in the
top ten. With the advent of games like
Gyron , fewer people are willing to put
up with games like Jet Fac - classics
two years ago but now gathering dust
in cupboards across the country,

Superior graphics is the name of the
game and the Spectrum is being
stretched to its limits in a constant
effort to improve software. Some
games combine excellent graphics
with originality, though equally large
numbers have been launched on the
back of the successful few. Ultimate's
Knight Lore, Undcrwurlde and Alien
8 axe three successful examples and
Nightshade is expected to do as well.
Undcrwurlde is rather like a vertic-
al Atic Atac featuring the Sabre-man
who must escape a series of chambers
while avoiding hosts of nasties. The
pace is fast, the screens colourful - a
devious game.

Knight Lore and Alien 8 could, at
first glance, be mistaken for the same
game. Featuring superb 3D grahpics,
Knight Lore's hero must search a
maze of rooms and find the ingre-

dients of a spell to lift a curse placed
upon him. Each room presents a
challenge and one wrong move spells
instant death. The scenario in Alien 8
is different from its predecessor and
the quality of graphics is even higher.
Wizard's Lair from Bubble Bus is
an Atic Atac lookalike with shades of
Sabre Wulf and is an excellent game,
even if you have seen the same sort of
thing before. Bubble Bus has made
some attempt to change the scenario
which covers three levels, accessed via
a magic wardrobe lift.

The programmers of Firebird's
Cylu were influenced by Alien 8, Cylu
is in the Silver range and at £2.50
represents very good value - it is
almost as frustrating as the original
but the graphics are a little patchy.
Ultimate should be proud that so
many companies want to copy their
games, though it's a crying shame that
those same software houses cannot put
their combined programming exper-
tise to good use, and produce some-
thing original of their own.

Games featuring film scenarios and
famous names are often the subject of
massive advertising campaigns, and
Domark's A View to a Kill was no
exception. Played in three parts you
must guide the intrepid 007 through
the streets of Paris, San Francisco and
into Silicon Valley to stop the evil Max
Zorin from tipping chip valiey into the
drink. The game received mixed re-
views but, at the time of writing, it
had just made it into the top ten -
probably due to the James Bond
name. It is an exciting game but lacks
much visual detail.

The Rocky Horror Show from
CRL is already sliding down the
charts and does not live up to its
namesakes, the film and play. Rescue
Janet or Brad from the Medusa
machine by finding 15 component
parts of the de- Medusa machine. It
sounds riveting. Your task seems
enormous as you can carry only one
part of the machine at a time and if
you expect to meet normal sane char-
acters in the castle, forget it. More
could have been made of the graphics
and the action is slow in places, but it
is worth playing if only to meet
Magenta who will strip you of your
clothes. Wow!

Beyond's Spy vs Spy is unique and
features simultaneous play between
two players on a split screen. Take
part in the zany humour of MAD
magazine's two famous characters, the
black spy and the white spy, each

SINCLAIR USER Annual 1986

trying to stop the other finding secret
documents in a foreign embassy. Set
whacky traps as you ransack each
room before escaping to the airport. It
is fun, highly addictive and very
amusing. Buying the licence to films,
books and names is an expensive
business, and at last one company has
made the most of it with an excellent
game ,

1 1 is interesting to note that when
one unusual game is launched others
of a similar nature swiftly follow.
Perhaps all programmers follow the
same thought waves. Last summer we
had an unusual trio of games, re-
viewed in May, June and August
issues. Two are based on the human
body — not the most obvious subject
for a game.

Quicksilva's Fantastic Voyage is a
thrilling game based on the sixties film
of the same name, in which Raquel
Welch is injected into the body of a
brain damaged scientist. Unfortunate-
ly, your mini -sub breaks up and you
have only one hour to locate all the
missing parts. Searching is a novel
experience as you rush from atrium to
stomach to lung and heart in a never
ending circle. Finding your way to the
brain is difficult as it is not signposted
and the turning is easy to miss. Dine
on red blood cells to keep up your
energy and clear any infections which
frequently break out - normally in the
most inaccessible parts of the scien-
tist's anatomy. A great way to learn
about your bits, and where they are
situated.

Icon's Frankenstien 2000 bears lit-
tle resemblance to Fantastic Voyage,
though it is played in a monster's
body. Whoever heard of munsters
smoking fags? This one obviously did
and that is probably why it's dead. On
reaching the lungs, battle with
cigarette packets, avoid hopping frogs
in the trachea, and fire at any oxygen
molecules it is your misfortune to
encounter. The graphics are unin-
spired and the game is simple.

Genesis' Bodyworks was reviewed
in June and it is difficult to know what
to make of it. It is hardly an arcade
game - more of an illustrated, educa-
tional tour of the workings of a human
body, describing the nervous, circula-
tory and respiratory systems.

Space Invaders was one of the first
great games on the Spectrum and
so ft ware houses have never tired of the
theme. Space games crop up in all
categories; simulations, adventures
and arcade adventures. A division has

even brought out Ballblazer, a spons
game played in space. Way out!

Moon Cresta from Incentive is a
traditional game in which you shod
everything in sight, and then dock
with another space ship before taking
off to do exactly the same on the next
level. With complex games like Sta-
tion around one would think that
games of this calibre would flop. But
no, there must be some people around
whose brains are in their trigger fin-
gers. Surprisingly, Moon Cresta u
creeping up the charts. Long live the
aliens.

Melbourne House's Stanon takes
space travel seriously and combines a
number of features, including the
traditional shoot 'em up, word puzzles
and anagrams. Kill off enemy space
ships and collect the letters they drop,
then unscramble those to form a word
Fly down to earth and answer a puzzle
to change the course of Earth's his-
tory. There are 243 events to rewrite -
and that amounts to a lot of flying
time. Station is well up in the
top ten.

System 3 has come up with the
goods against all opposition wuh the
dreadful Death Star Interceptor,
which has proved surprisingly popu-
lar. If you are really into boring
games, this is right up your alley.
Played in three sections, first take oil
into outer space, next avoid assorted
aliens and then, as in Star Wan, plant
a bomb in the exhaust port of an
enemy death star. It is all thrilling
stuff,

Quicksilva's Glass is amazing tu
look at. Psychedelic colours make you
want to blink in this repetitive but
addictive game. There are hundreds of
screens to blast through, and whole
sections are spent dodging columns as
you hurtle through a 3D spacescape.
The rest of the time is spem shooting
radar antennae off unsuspecting space
ships. The graphics make up for any
limitations in the game and demons-
trates that a traditional shoot 'em up
need not be boring.

This final section consists of a
number of games which cannot be
categorised. A strange mixture falls
into this area - many are shoot 'em ups
in some form or another, others re-
quire an element of cunning and
strategy.

Gyron from Firebird, a Sinclair
User classic, is a unique game in which
you must travel through a complex
maze, dodging massive rolling balls
and keeping a watchful eye on the

SINCLAIR USER Annual rm

Arcade action

guardian towers to be found at each down the fizzy stuff. Running back-
junction- Those shoot at you, but wards and forwards between four
approaching from another angle may bars, make sure the customers have
change the direction of their fire. As got a drink, and catch the empties as

there are two mazes to get through, it
should take months, Gyron is likely to
deter arcade nuts, but for those with
staying power, it is an attractive pro-
position. It did make a brief appearance
in the top ten at the time of writing,
but has since fallen away.

US Gold's Spy Hunter, based on
the arcade game of the same name, is a
faithful replica of the original. It all
takes place on the road as you drive
your souped-up sports car through a
variety of traps laid down by the
baddies, Equip your motor with a
variety of weapons, obtainable from a
weapons van which you drive into
Italian Job style. Rockets, smoke
screens and oil slicks are all strongly
reminiscent of 007.

Elite's Airwolf is a game that we
found so hard as to be almost impossi-
ble, and which everyone else seemed
to find a cinch - and told us so in no
uncertain terms! Try if you can, to fly
your chopper down a long, narrow
tunnel to rescue five scientists stuck si
the end- Blast your way through walls,
which rematerialise as fast as you can
destroy them - a well nigh impossible
task for those whose trigger fingers
and joysticks have suffered from the
likes of Daley Thomson's Decath-
lon. Airwolf has done better than we
predicted. You can't win them all.

Ghostbusters, the mega box office
hit last Christmas was a prime candi-
date for a computer game and Activi-
sion was first to the ghost, Featuring
all the best parts of the film, it was an
instant success and Activision did well
to launch it simultaneously with the
movie. Drive around the city coaxing
ghouls into your ghost trap but listen
out for a Marshmallow Alert. That
giant sticky marshmallow man is quite
capable of flattening whole streets
unless halted. Greenbacks play an
important part in the game as you
have to buy your equipment to get
started , and earn enough prize money
for the number of ghosts caught, in
order to take part in a final showdown
with Zuul.

Finally Tapper from US Gold -
another Situ lair User classic. Tapper
is a simple but refreshing game cen-
tered round an all- American soda bar.
You play a harassed barman, who
must serve his customers with drinks.
Easy at first as you slide them down
the bar bin wait until they have gulped

they come skidding back. There are
three difficulty levels, each one faster
and more hectic than the last. Tapper
is moving up the charts and we are
sure that it will go far towards refresh-
ing the pans other games cannot
reach.

The fierce competition over the lasi
12 months has chased many com-
panies into liquidation. There have.

however, been successes, particularly
with a number of small software
houses bringing new blood into the
market. Thai can only be seen as a
healthy sign.

The lack of QL games software is
the only disappointment. Where is it?
Other than a few bask programs such
as Reversi, which cut its eye teeth on
the ZX-81 years ago, there has been a
dearth of games for this flagging
micro. If games of the quality of
Knight Lore can be produced for the
Spectrum, why not for the QL?

Toy Bizarre

Activision £7-99

***

Jasper
Micromega £6.95

***

Underwurlde
Ultimate £9 95
****

Knight Lore
Ultimate £9.95
*****

Alien 8

Ultimate £9.95
*****

Wizard's Lair
Bubble Bus £6.99
****

Cylu

Firebird £2.50

****

A View to a Kill
Dumark £10,99
****

The Rocky Horror Show
CPL £8,95
+ +*

Spy vs Spy
Beyond £9,95

*****

Body Works
Genesis £14.95
**

Fantastic Voyage
QuieksiSva £6 95
****

Frankenstein 2000

Icon £6 95

Moon Cresta
Incentive £6,95
***

Slarion

Melbourne House £7.95

****

Death Star Interceptor

System 3 £7,95

Glass

Quicksilva £7 99
****

Gyron

Firebird £9.96
*****

Spy Hunter
US Gold £7.95
****

Airwolf
Elite £6,95
***

Ghost busters
Activision £9.99
****

Tapper

US Gold £7.95

*****

Daley Thompson's Decathlon
Ocean £690
+ * + *

Sports Hero
Melbourne House £6,75
***

Brian Jacks' Superstar Challenge
Marteeh £7,95
+ *

Hypersports
Imagine £7.95

****

Jonah Barrington's Squash
New Generation £7.95
***

World Series Baseball
Imagine £6,95
***

Frank Bruno's Boxing

Elitn £6.95

****

Room

Gremlin Graphics £7.95
***

Knockout
Alligata £6.95
**

Strangeloop
Virgin £5.95
*****

Jet Set Willy II
Software Projects £6.95

***

Brian Bloodaxe
The Edge £7.95
****

Technician Ted

Hewson Consultants £5,95

****

Mutant Monty
Artie £6-95
****

muallVM I CLAIR USER Annual 1986

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Super fit and desperate for
freedom, Monty makes his daring
escape from Scud more Prison.
Hounded by the bastions of law
and order, our frightened hero
finds refuge with the criminal
underworld who offer him his
chance to breathe fresh air and
bask in the sunlight once again.
Moving from safe
house to hideout

to underground lair. Monty must
select the correct five elements of
his freedom kit from the many he's
offered and not miss out on the
hidden gold coins that will make
him a mote of leisure.

At last he's free but can he make
the cross-channel ferry on time?

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BEFORE PROGRAMMERS disco-
vered sprites, 3D graphics and con-
tinuous fire buttons, strategy games
were regarded as a sort of ideal com-
puter entertainment. That was panly
based on the idea that computers were
essentially souped -up calculators and
partly because mainframe computers
were very good at games like chess.

If you were into computers when
the Spectrum was launched, you'll
remember titles like Football Mana-
ger, and Flight Simulation being held
up as examples of the finest programs
around. These days it's more likely CO
be Alien 8, Shadowfire or Dun
Darach, and their reputation depends
in great part on graphics program-
ming.

One of the reasons for that is
financial. In their wisdom, retailers
and distributors tend to see strategy
games as having a narrow appeal.
They are the classic sleepers which sell
steadily but slowly. The trade wants

tables for cross-referencing dice
throws, gridded maps and strict sequ-
ences of actions within a given turn of
play. They also took hours to play.

The computer is supposed to take
all the argument of table-top gaming
out of wargames. It quickly does all
the adding up, it doesn't cheat, and it
can handle secret moves easily.

Unfortunately., most wargames nev-
er turn out like that. Graphics tend u>
be based on unrealistic grids, the rules
appear over-simple, and the computer
generally takes a vast amount of time
to think about the moves.

One such game, which in other
respects might have deserved success,
was ATRAM, The name stands for
Advanced Tactical Reconnaissance

The author is clearly fixated on
jargon, which makes the rules almost
unreadable, and all moves are keyed-
in in a jumble of letters and numbers.
It is so easy to make a mistake thai
you'll never be entirely sure whether
you're playing the game properly.
Headbangers and retired Harriet
pilots only.

A much better two-player wargame
is Confrontation from Lothlorien.
Confrontation is a wargame system
which allows you to design your own
maps and, within reason, choose the
composition 6f your armies. That
allows you to play at a tactical or
strategic level. The flavour is essen-
tially modern, with armour and
mechanised infantry supported by

Strategy

the money now and Jots of it. That
means quick-seUing arcade games,
preferably with some spin-off celebri-
ty theme attached, which hits number
one in the charts in a couple of weeks
and stiffs out a month later.

Many of the fine strategy/simulation
games, produced in 1985, saw little
exposure in the shops — certainly not
in the big high street chains. That
does not mean they were no good. In
fact, there has been something of an
upsurge in the quality of strategy
games recently, and most spectacular-
ly in the field of wargames.

Wargames have as long a tradition
as any sort of computer entertain-
ment. If you've ever read the hefty
instruction books for classic wargames
of the past — Avalon Hill's Afrika
Korps you'll understand why. Those
rule$ tended to read like a computer
program with complicated look-up

Chris Bourne takes a nostalgic trip
through the battle-strewn fields of
last year's strategy games

and Attack Mission, which turns out
to be a NATO exercise in which the
RAF and USAF batde it out using
Harrier jump jets. The idea neatly
sidesteps the obvious problems in-
volved in trying to flog a game based
on bombing the daylights out of Port
Stanley .

The game is a computer-moderated
boardgame with a glossy magnetic
board and stylized pieces that you
slide about as if you were a real NATO
general. Unfortunately, the computer
part is less fun. The only excuse for
the program is to handle the boring
bits like keeping track of how much
fuel each jet has consumed.

footsloggers, artillery and air units.

To go with the system, Lothlorien
has also released a set of four scenarios
ranging from a fictional WWII inva-
sion of Kent to guerilla warfare in
Afghanistan and Angola. We found
the Egypt-Israel scenario most in-
teresting in that the open terrain left
units extremely vulnerable without air
support. The organisation of such
support requires capturing and de-
fending a chain of airstrips in order to
reach Tel Aviv or Suez depending on
which way you're going.

Nevertheless, Confrontation is still
slow. The same cannot be said of
Overlords;, another two -player game

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from Lothbrien. Loosely based on an
old boardgame favourite, Campaign, it
is played across a large area of fairly
basic terrain. The concept is abstract,
involving footsoldiers, generals, an J
the Overlord. The objective is to
capture strongpoints — ownership of
which generates one piece per turn.
The fighting is equally abstract, based
on the number and strength of the
pieces in contact with the enemy.

Both players play simultaneously,
and the game is so fast that you'll
almost certainly need joysticks —
preferably one each. The pieces whiz/
about the screen and that leads to a
magnificent confusion as both players
simultaneously attempt to outflank
their opponent.

By and large , it is the epic battles of
WWII which command the keenest
attention from programmers . Battle
for Midway is a strange hybrid from
PSS, and incorporates arcade sequ-
The Battle of Midway was a

ences.

the bunch is undoubtedly Anthem
from CCS. CCS, like Lothtorien, spe-
cialises in strategy games. For years
CCS games were worthy rather than
exciting, and almost always writtin in
super-slow Basic. With Amhem the
company has finally struck gold.

The game follows the thrust of the
Allied armies across the Rhine against
fierce German opposition. The main
idea was simple enough. The British
were supposed to hurtle down country
roads to Arnhem while American pa-
ratroopers were dropped on the
bridges ahead to hold them for she
main advance.

Of course it wasn't as simple as that ,
and neither is the game. There are a
number of levels at which you can
play, until you get to the full battle. A
time limit is set, and if you don't
capture the bridges quickly enough
you lose. The German task is therefore
to hold up the advance.

The graphics are pleasant, and in-

Burope. It was always doomed to
failure, what with narrow country
lanes and terrain choked in snow. The
computer plays so quickly and
viciously that you'll be hard put to
survive*

Although The Bulge scores over
Arnhem for speed, the graphics are
less clear and the strategy less easy to
fathom. Lothlorien has opted for
simultaneous movement, and one is
frequently reduced to hurling forces
willy-nilly into the fray without much
regard for tactics,

A pleasing feature of both Arnhem
and The Bulge is that you can issue
general orders to units which they will
continue to obey until you change
i hem. That is a sensible and much
more realistic alternative and saves
having to move fifty pieces every turn ,
slowing the whole flow of play*

Moving away from wargames,
another category of great antiquity in
cumputer circles is what is known as

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crucial turning point in the war
against Japan, when the US sent a
force to smash the invasion fleet.

The PSS game falls into two parts.
First, locate the course of the three
arms of the Japanese forces. Having
done that you must send out strike
forces from your aircraft carriers to
bomb them.

When battle is joined you get the
chance to zap the Japs using a joys-
tick, which rather spoils the point of a
supposedly realistic wargame. The au-
thor claims it simulates the fog of war,
or some such nonsense.

We found the game easy to beat —
it's good to see the computer taking an
active part in a solo game for once, but
the graphics are primitive and not very
clear. A year ago we might have had
more praise,, but there are better
games around.

Much better, in fact, and the star of

formation about each unit's strength
can be obtained by positioning the
cursor. One of the best features is the
movement system. You can choose to
move in open or close order — open
order means you are far less vulner-
able to attack but cannot take proper
advantage of the roads. The game can
be played by up to three players —
with three, one player gets the Ger-
mans and the other two play British
and American forces.

The feel of the game is tremendous-
ly realistic, with the onus placed on
keeping the British moving down the
roads. Arnhem is absolutely recom-
mended and will hopefully encourage
other software houses to pull their
socks up and match the standard.

Less attractive, but equally fast, is
Lothlorien* s The Bulge — the Ger-
man counter-attack on Antwerp and
Hitler's last great offensive in Western

the land-management game. An early
example of the genre was Hamurabi
which puts you in charge of an ancieni
kingdom. You are head of a popula-
tion, and there is corn in the treasury.

The idea is to manage the economy
— based entirely on corn — so that
everybody gets enough to eat. There is
enough corn to sow for next year with
some in reserve in case of natural
disaster.

Of course, the way the game is set
up at the beginning, there is never
enough, so you get to make decisions
about how many people to starve to
death for the greater good of the rest,
and so on.

Such games are very easy to con-
struct on computers, and if you want
to write your own strategy game we
suggest you try something along those
lines. The secret is to construct a set of
formulae governing the relationship

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SINCLAIR USER ArmmU9S6

between various factors — for exam-
ple, how much food do people need?
How many people are needed to sow
an acre of land? How much corn?

There are very few business-type
activities that cannot be simulated in
that son of way. Two famous games of
this type are Football Manager from
Addictive Games and Mugsy from
Melbourne House, in which you play
a gangster trying to run rackets with
the aid of a none too loyal gang.

Sadly, Kevin Toms — Mr Football
Manager himself — has not managed
to follow that enormous success.

Addictive has brought out a number
of games along similar lines in 1985,
but none of them match the old
classic.

Software Superstar casts you as a
producer of games. You have to allo-
cate lime and money each month to
releasing games, programming, adver-
tising and the like, Nice touches

Best of all, you can call pit stops for
tyre changes, and the correct choice of
timing may win or lose a race. The pit
stop sequence is arcade based, and you
have to manoeuvre a mechanic around
the four wheels 10 complete it. Purists
may have their doubts, but the speed
of movement is linked to the amount
of money you invested in the crew,
and does not therefore make a mock-
ery of the strategic element.

Formula One is a good game
against the computer, but becomes
really exciting when played with
friends.

Almost as enthralling, although less
well presented and rather more anar-
chic in play is The Biz, a simulation of
the record industry from Virgin
Games, You begin by choosing your
social class — from stinking rich to
unemployed — and then form a band.
Hire a manager, go on the pub or
college circuit and send endless demo
tapes to bored record companies. If

with an array of instruments on the
lower half of the screen and a view of
the horizon with occasional crude
landmarks. Some are better than
others for speed and ease of use, and
the best are still Psion's antique clas-
sic, Flight Simulation and Digital
Integration's Fighter Pilot, which h
rather more difficult but does allow
far aerial dogfights.

DACC specialises in those features,
and recently brought out 747 Flight
Simulator. We've taken a bit of stick
at Sinclair Uier for giving it the
thumbs down, "but I still maintain it's
an unexciting production, mainly be-
cause the Jumbo jet isn't a patch on a
light aircraft for aerobatics.

Real enthusiasts will probably enjoy
it, it is certainly a worthy and
apparently highly accurate program.
If you're looking for entertainment,
though, try elsewhere.

You might try looking at Southern
Belle from Hewson Consultants. The

include the decision to hype games or
be honest about them, but the overall
impression is dull, and we found it
easy to get a hit program and reach the
targets set.

Grand Prix Manager from the same
outfit was equally tedious, with poor
graphics to boot. Luckily CRL
brought out the infinitely more enter-
taining Formula One — a Sinclair
User classic — which we found totally
compulsive.

Formula One is a full simulation of
a grand prix season. Stan off by hiring
drivers and building cars — you have
a million quid or so but it goes very
fast. When the race starts choose your
tyres and then watch the cars whizz
past in convincing graphics. Messages
inform you of the state of the track
and incidents involving other cars,
while a leader board keeps you in
touch with the race positioos.

you have the money, you can cut your
own discs, but beware — without the
clout of the big boys behind you it
may ail go to nothing. The ultimate
goal is, of course, to get a number one,
but the road is full of pitfalls.

The game is full of subtle humour
— you may reckon a dry ice machine
is just right for your tacky rock band ,
but watch your credibility plummet.
You may even get a chance to sample
drugs during the game. Try it and see
where it gets you.

On then to simulation proper, by
which is meant those worthy and
sometimes addiciive attempts to por-
tray accurately a real-life experience.
The original impetus comes from the
flight simulators used by airlines to
train pilots, and for some time soft-
ware houses only seemed to be in-
terested in mimicking those.

They all look more or less the same,

program simulates the old Pullman
service from London to Brighton, and
you have to handle the great steam
engine all the way.

Initial levels involve handling only
one or two controls while the compu-
ter does the rest, but you work up to a
full schedule with stops, signals,
hazards on the track, brakes and
handling gradients, to name a few.

It is a surprisingly fulfilling prog-
ram, and the wireframe graphics of
recognisable landmarks along [he
track are well executed. You are
marked at the end according to your
accuracy on the schedule and how
economically you conserved fuel.

Another unusual simulation is Jug-
gernaut from CRL, in which you have
to drive a container truck around town
picking up cargoes, The screen shows
an overhead view of the lorry and
road, with traffic lights, status, steer-

a
I

SINCLAIR USER Atmuai 1W

a Strategy =

ing and gears. The movement is slow
and there are no other vehicles around
— presumably you're driving in the
middle of the night, council bye-laws
notwithstanding. The irrepressible
John Gilbert reckons the lorry looks
like a Gillette Gil razor. He's quite
right, and although Juggernaut isn't a
bad idea, the end result is rather dull.
Finally, a look at a few odds and
ends which don't really fit any cate-
gories. One such Minder, a much-
hyped trading game based on the
famous television series.

You play Arthur Daley, the dodgy
entrepreneur, and the idea is to buy
and sell an incredible range of weird
goods such as gold acupuncture nee-
dles while steering clear of the law in
the form of mean Inspector Chisholm .
You do that by seeking out dealers
and wide boys, either at their ware-
houses or in the Winchester Club,
Terry, as ever, gets to do the fetching
and carrying, and can also be hired to

uat!9S6

Alien on the other hand, from
Argus, has plenty of depth but is
difficult to get into. It follows the
tense cult movie in which a devastat-
ing alien invades a spaceship and
proceeds to exterminate the crew.

The game uses menus to pick char-
acters, objects and locations in the
spaceship Nostromo, while plans of
the decks indicate your position. The
idea is to destroy the alien either in a
straight fight — fat chance — or by
escaping from the ship and blowing it
up by remote control.

You only see the alien when you are
in control of a character in the same
room. The rest of the time you can
hear it as doors and ventilation grilles
slide open, or your scanner picks up
the presence of a living creature near-
by. That makes for tremendous ten-
sion in the play, and the one drawback
is the simplicity of the graphics which
works against the otherwise strong
illusion of involvement. Fans of the

sports arena which might come under
the umbrella of simulations. Those are
generally disappointing, especially in
comparison with the arcade based
sports games. Two, which play quite
well, are Steve Davis' Snooker and
American Football from Argus —
which has the added virtue of not
involving a famous personality, Nick
Faldo's Open is a lovingly program-
med simulation of the course at Sand-
which which suffers from one horrible
flaw, The closer your ball is to the flag
on the green, the more difficult it is to
judge the angle at which you should
strike it. In fact, the reverse should
happen.

It is heartening to see arcade games
taking on more elements of strategy in
their play. Arcade-adventures such as
Knight Lore or Gyron — if you can
categorise those masterpieces at all —
have as much to do with logical
thought and planning as they do with
swift reactions. That argues a growing

mind you — an important function
when dealers discover goods are
stolen.

In essence the game is simply trad-
ing, with a large text interpreter enabl-
ing you to bargain with characters in
authentic Daley cockney — it under-
stands words like bent, or pony. Once
you get into it there's rather more
strategy involved. You have to orga-
nise Terry's time so goods get col-
lected and delivered on schedule,
while you need sufficient cash to pay
for the next lot.

Minder is a pleasant romp and
deserved to do better in the charts
than it did, but would have benefitted
from a greater variety of incidents.
Memory taken up with slang during
the bargaining is fun at first but since
it is really only window dressing it
leaves you with the feeling thai the
game lacks depth.

film will enjoy it. Others may find it
tough going.

We have made no mention of some
of the plethora of spin-off titles in the

Allan Mind Games £8.99

American Football Mind Games

Arnhem CCS £8.95
*****

ATRAM PD Visual Marketing
£19,95
***

Battle for Midway PSS £9.95
***

The Biz Virgin £6.95
****

The Bulge Lothlorien £9.99
* + **

Confrontation Lothlorien £7.95
****

Confrontation Scenarios Lothlo-
rien £5.95
****

maturity, both among games pub-
lishers and also in public taste, as
computer owners look for more than a
quick joystick fix from their hobby.

Formula One CRL £7.95

*****

Grand Prix Manager Silicon Joy

£6.95

Juggernaut CRL £9.95

***

Minder OK'tronics £9.95

* ***

Nick Fatdo's Open Mtnd Games
£9 99
***

Overlords lothlorien £6,95
*****

747 Flight Simulator DACC £7.95
**

Software Star Addictive £6.95
**

Southern Bella Hewson £7 95
****
Steve Davis Snooker CDS £7.95

* + *•*

SINCLAIR USER Annual 1986

GET THE

CTURE GET

P I C T U R

<
h

on
o

NEW LAPEL
NEW TITLE

m
jj

•rfft

)rd<at MONOLI
3rd Floor, Lector Court, 151 F-amnydonRoad.
LcindanEClfCMt}

Education —J

ONE FEATURE which stands out
when you Look back on 1985 is the
increasing sophistication of software
in the learning field.

While previous years saw a mass of
new software the quality was not
necessarily good. There was a feeling
that publishers were keen to jump on
the bandwagon and produce software
quickly for a perceived,, rather than an
actual, market,

Some of those programs were dis-
tinctly dull, but 19S5 saw an increase
in the games element and the fun/
educauonal borderline became blurred.

Preschool teaming

Fur the preschool and infant age
group Romper Room from Beyond is
another attempt at using the Spectrum
for initial alphabet teaching. Romper
Room is much more lively than pre-
viuus programs of this type. It features
a character called Max who illustrates
each letter with an action. The screen
picture above is one example.

On the first game, Watch the Let-
ters, both capital and small letters are
shown together with a small sentence
B be read by the parent. Mai then
acts the word, such as dancing for D.
That is much more fun than a static
graphic of an object.

The three other games in the pack-
age, Press a Letter, Find a Letter, and
Letter Quiz work from that basis.
Letter Quiz is the hardest of the
games, where the player has to
observe Max's action , determine the
initial letter, and then press the letter

A first
class romp

Theo Wood finds
that educational

software is a
boon to teachers

on the keyboard,

Education publisher Macmillan has
produced games which follow on from
the kind of skills learnt in Romper
Room-
Tops and Tails and Castles and
Clowns are designed with the help of
Betty Root, who is the 1985 President
of the United Kingdom Reading Asso-
ciation. Those games are involved
with the recognition of initial sounds
and Tops and Tails introduces sound
blends. Both feature games and, in-
terestingly, two people can play. That
is really useful when you have two
children squabbling over who should
play with the computer,

Mr T Meets His Match by Good
Housekeeping, deals with memory'
skills, The players have to pick out
pairs of animals as they turn over
cards on the screen. The one-player
option allows Mr T to be a forgetful or
clever computer opponent. At a high-

er level the animals on the cards
change to geometric shapes.

The other game, Switcheroo, pro-
vides food for thought as the task is to
change one animal into another in four
moves- That can be done by changing
the size* colour, or animal. Mr T
Meets His Match is an interesting
package which deals with non-verbal
skills using entertaining graphics,

Paddington's Garden Game is a
gentle arcade frolic in which Padding-
ton has to go around the garden to find
a pot of marmalade, catching butter-
flies as he goes. The butterflies are
released at the end of the game.

Joystick control ensures easy use.
The game is innocent enough for the
younger age group for which it is
designed. Paddington fans should en-
joy it, while practising hand/eye co-
ordination.

Simple arithmetic

While today's educational thinking
encourages calculators for yesterday's
burdensome tasks of long division and
multiplication, elementary numeracy
cannot be ignored. Several programs
work on that problem and are so
designed as to deal with varying skill
levels from five to 1 L

Mirrorsoft's Ancient Quests pack-
age has a game called The Count
which provides practice of simple
counting to more complicated sums
such as division and multiplication.
Moving around the castle you must
solve the problems posed before
reaching the library where the Count

SIN" , LAIR USER Annual 1986

•I

— Education

can be overcome.

The other game, King Tut's Trea-
sure includes arcade action. You must
move Professor Diggins around the
screens, avoid the hazards and dig for
the matching shapes, match a fraction
with a decimal or fraction with a
name.

Psion and ASK collaborated on two
of the year's best programs which deal
with numbers. Estimator Racer is
another arcade classic in which you
have to race around a track as fast as
possible. The faster you go the more
frequently you have to answer ques-
tions. The speed and level can be
selected and depend on the type of car
and player's control*

Estimator Racer is different from
other similar programs in that it is not
the correct answer which is needed
but the one nearest to the answer.
That skill is useful when using a
calculator, and encourages quick
thinking without the need for com-
plete accuracy.

Number Painter is another prog-
ram with the same pedigree. This time
the aim is to reach the target number
by painting out other numbers — such
as + 2, +3 — until the target is
reached. Based on a platform and
ladders game, and operating at a
number of different skill levels, Num-
ber Painter is great fun and has
enough action to appeal to players who
are hooked on games.

Adventures

Adventure games have proved
popular and the format is selling well
in adventure books with multiple
choice options. Taking an active role
in the development of the plot, young
readers are encouraged to improve
their reading skills,

Mirrorsoft's Phineas Frogg must be
considered a classic of its type for
eight to 10 year olds. A story book is
provided to fill in the plot background
before you start the game, and a
multiple choice of action is shown on
each screen. There are also several
arcade games which have to be played
to solve the mystery, which is to save
the scientist Mole from the Secret Lair
of the Terrible Hamsters — SLOTH
for short,

Jack in Magicland could be played
by the same age group, or as with
Phineas, with younger non -readers as
an alternative to reading a story. Based
on the old tale it too has options. As a
text-only adventure it lacks some of
the interest of Phineas, but that is

For this forecast .
Temperature was

unsatisf<
weather type was

accurd
Wind speed was

unsatisfacl
Uind direction was

accurati

compensated by using a more descrip-
tive text.

Simulations

Simulations are one way of intro-
ducing a subject and practising skills,
Weathermaster by Sinclair/Mac-
millan is one of my favourites. Using it
you can play at being a weather
forecaster.

Onscreen you see a picture of the
British Isles and the frontal systems
moving over the chart. The aim of the
game is to provide a correct forecast.
That must be done for each region
until the whole country has been
covered. If you can do that you can
become a weathermaster — no mean
feat,

Oilstrike is another in the Science
Horizons series from Sinclair/
Macmillan, It is a simulation similar to
Weathermaster but this time you
have to survey and drill for oil. The
secret is to find suitable oilbearing
strata before drilling, otherwise costs
mount turning the operation into what
could prove to be a fruitless exercise.

The success of sports simulations in
the software charts proves their popu-
larity. Two sports simulations which
require more skill than usual are
Yacht Race and Run For Gold, both
from Hill MacGibbon.

Yacht Race is an introduction to
the art of sailing and comes with a
printed chart of the different courses.
There are six levels of difficulty which
allow the novice to learn by coping

with steering the dinghy before mov-
ing on to trimming the sails and
setting the balance.

Run For Gold similarly requires a
learning curve to fully master the pace
and steering of your two chosen run-
ners. Setting the pace too high for
your runners will quickly tire them
out. The object of the game is to
increase your fitness level in local
meets, before moving on to reach
Olympic standard,

The Spectrum is not noted for its
musical capability but one program
stands out which uses what little there
is to the full. Music Typewriter, from
Romantic Robot, enables you to print
out a score on to a wide selection of
printers and interfaces.

The product is a real aid to budding
composers who are workiog with a
musical instrument. You can ENTER
the notes with the help of the
keyboard overlay which is provided,
and edit the tune bar by bar.

A substantial section dealing with
setting key changes, rhythm or tempo,
as well as right or left-hand play
options, means that the package can
cover a wide variety of musical styles.
You cannot use chords, but that is a
failing of the hardware.

More Logo logic

Sinclair's own version of Logo was
a critical success in 1984 and provided
Spectrum owners with the chance to
experiment with a full implementation

continued on page 62

SINCLAIR USER Annual 19^h)

Interactive BASIC Programming
48K ZX Spectrum & Spectrum +

Don't let books blow your mind, use your computer to teach
you BASIC ■ what could be easier?

The only ZX BASIC programming course that runs in your
Spectrum and gives you complete control over the computer.

Learn BASIC with your hands on the keyboard, not with your head in a book!

IBP consists of twelve programs called Learning Modules. Altogether more than 250K long I Whilst using a

Module you will have complete control over your computer. So when IBP explains, for example, how to use

the SEEP command you can try it out there and then before continuing

You will be asked to write programs throughout IBP. Don't worry though, you can call on two hints for each

program and then get IBPto put its own solution into BASIC for you to look at and RUN. There are eighty oroa-

rams like this.

Many demonstration programs are given, also.

THE IBP COMPETITION

Epson FX80 printers are the best all round printers and Eigen Software are giving away two of them f To enter
the competition you must write a BASIC program, record it on the official cassette {free with the IBP package)
and send it to the address below. Entries will be considered in two categories: games and non-games
The writers of the best program from each category will receive a printer system. ALL other entrants will
receive a copy of the two winning programs!

The whole Interactive BASIC Programming package costs £9.95,
ff your computer shop does not stock Interactive BASIC Programming then send €9. 95 for the package by
return of post {p & p free) to:

Eigen Software

45 Bancroft Road, Widnes, Cheshire, WAS OLR

051 -423 6201

Hip = £"<// EIGEN SOFTWARE create reality

■'■ /g $* ISWCLAmUSER Annual 1986

X H

w«tl bttwtin me

The pxr\* K«d
sn the
doer

7 1 GO thfOUSh Iht tiit

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umnniW /rem pagt 60

of the language. Two Logo lookalikes

were released in 1985 which offer

Logo facilities of Logo at a reduced

price.

Spectrum Logo Graphics from
Sigma deals purely with turtle
graphics. Using a keyboard overlay
the main commands can be ENTERed
with single key stroke. Spacing be-
tween commands is added automati-
cally. That may be of some help to
younger children but the entry of
commands will not deter most chil-
dren. The big drawback with the
program is, however, that routines
cannot be SAVEd.

The second Logo program was Pic-
ture Logic, from Addison Wesley, The
program is a reworking of Heather
Govier and Malcolm Neave*s earlier
program Logo Challenge.

Picture Logic adopts the structured
approach to turtle-type graphics. The
book accompanying the software takes
you through the first stages and
beyond by a series of exercises, called
challenges, with many hints and tips
to help beginners. In neither of the
two programs is there any list proces-
sing facility which can be found in the
full Sinclair version, If, however s you
want turtle graphics and want a struc-
tural approach Picture Logic is the
best buy.

One package which is easy to use
and provides access to the Spectrum's
graphics capability is New Genera-
tion's Light Magic. The program

Ancient Qtuits, opposite
Pktneas Frogg, beimst

allows you to draw onscreen, change
brush size and generally play around
with colour and pattern withoul any
programming skills. A program such
as that can give some insight into how
a graphic system works as well as
being instantly useable.

Bookware

For 11 to 16 year olds the Century
Communications book Maths Tutor for
the Spectrum is to be recommended. It
is not a revision package but a self-
contained maths course in book form
with a tape for a few pounds extra.

A maths course could well be very
difficult to follow but author Robert
Carter has brought a masterly use of
language into play which ensures that
the whole subject does not become too
dry. The explanations in the book are
oustandingly clear and simple, and use
of the programs in the book reinforces
understanding of the mathematical
concepts required up to O Level.

Revision programs are the mainstay
of the program lists for secondary
school age. The best of those on the
science side are the Pan/Hill MacCib-
bon packages, called Pan Course
Tutors. They cover all the usual scien-
ce subjects and come with a text book.

There are diagnostic tests at the
beginning of the programs which help
students to identify weak spots in their
study course.

The student is then directed to a
suitable module. The modules make
extensive use of screen windows, with
one for the explanation, one for a
question and a third for hints.

Penguin has released more titles in
its study range, which mostly cover
English Literature. Those operate on
database techniques which allow you
to browse through and follow charac-
ters in a novel or play. As the study of
English Literature is largely interpre-
tive, and the space for text is extreme-
ly limited, it would seem that those
and other, similar, packages offer little
real advantage over revision note-
books.

Worldly wise

A program for older students which
does not concern revision is Worl-
dwide, a study of nuclear weapons. It
operates as a database as well as
providing a basis for playing negotia-
tion simulations. It is meant as a
factual program and not, in itself, an
opinion former.

The Richardson Institute for Con-
flict and Peace Research, at Lancaster
University, operates an update system
for members of the user group WUG
— Worldwise Users Group, mem
bership £2. 00. Extra copies and mic-
rodrive versions can be obtained
through the group at a special price.

Programs such as Worldwise can be
used to provide the basis for intelli-
gent discussion in an area which is
renowned for bias and emotion, fre-
quently unsupported by hard facts.

All in all, 1985 has been a good year
for educational software. As it becom-
es less easy to rely on simple rule and
drill exercises, producers of software
are showing imagination and wit in
their programs. In doing so the pack-
ages are becoming more attractive to
use and more fun to play.

Early Learning

Romper Room Beyond £9.95

****

Tops and Tails Macmiilan £5.95

****

Castles and Clowns Macmiilan

£5.95 ****

Mr T meets his Match Good

Housekeeping £9.95 ***

Paddingtons Garden Game Collins

£6,95 * * *

Junior

Ancient Quests Mirrarsoft £7.95

****

Number Painter ASKJPsion £4.95

****

Estimator Racer ASK/Psion £4.95

*****

Phineas Frogg Mirrorsoft £7.95

*****

Jack in Magicland Turtle £5.00

***

In forma tion/Speciaf
Interest

We at her master Sinclair/Macmillan

£7.95 *****

OHstrike SinclairVMacrmNan £7.95

*** +

Yacht Race Hill MacGlbbon £9.95

* # **

Run for Gold Hill MacGlbbon £9 95

***

Music Typewriter Romantic Robot

£9.95 ****

Graphics/Logo Lookalikes

Spectrum Logo Graphics Sigma
£17.95 **

Picture Logic Addison Wesley
£22.95 ***

Secondary

Maths Course For The Spectrum
Century Communications £7,95

-****

Pan Course Tutors £14.95 * * * *

Penguin Study Programs £7.95

***

Worldwise Richardson Institute For

Conflict And Peace Research £6,00

*****

SINCLAIR USER Annual It

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Si \rots. Compute, 3 Cross

Key*. TeL 044W 72013

Chester, fools, 47'$; Foregale
Sireet Tet 0244 28421
Cheater- Computrr laak. Jl Sl
w'erburgh Street Tet 0244 316516.
Crewe. Midshircs Computer
Centre, 57 Earir Street
TetOlXlJWWI.

Macclesfield. Computer Centre,
hX (' hj-Mfi-jpi,-. ret 0UJ 6tttZ7.
Warrington. Hoots, 39-45 Bridge
Slrrrl Tel (V25 CTIITI

iwn

M i dJlexhnrnu^h- Bouts,
B8-9Q Luithorpe Read, The

C levdand Ccnlrr Tel HHS42 24*1 h
Darlington. Darlington Computet

Sruitv 7> Bondeaie
let 0325 4S74?«

CliKrrWALL

I SL AuslelL AH&C CornnutHi,

Duchv House, fi I akwer Av litie*
Suuere, Tel 0?26 64*63
Bodmin. Miercaesi,
IS NormandY Way.
let 0208 31 "L 51*2

<:CMBKIA

KendnL ["he Kendal Computer

CcKn SransoHh
Tet 0539 22559.

Whitehaven. PI) Hendren, 1 5 King Grimsby. R.C. Johnson l.ld,

SlnveL let 094*, 2063
I Workington. Technology -Store.

12 FinUc Suxfl.

'1'et 0900 6*972.
| Prorilh. I'fnnlh Cnmmunic»tKirij,

14 Casrtegate let 0768 67146.

[H.KHYSIIIRh
I .sJireton. ( joruon Biarwtpod.
M-^ lUirh Street Tel (PT3«1«7|].
Chestrrtieid. 1 tools* 35-37 Low
PittmcnLMarkrl .
Tet 02* 203 Wl.
D*rby. Boots, I Devuuhire
It lit let 0332 45B86.
Dc-rcty. Fifti HMe Corapui*rs.
10 Main Centre, [jmiJvn Roaii
Tet 0312 J65ZB0.

~DgYOW

Et*ter- Boots, 251 High Street

Tet OJ^ 32244.

Finer. Open Channel, Cenlfltf

Station. Queen Street

Tet (H«21R1*7

Paignton. Computer System* Lid,

15 Hjtie Road Tel 0B0J 1242*4.
Plymouth, SvntiL To f'omwall
SireeL Tet 0752 2*705.
Plymoulh, Compuier Bhsc,

21 Market Avenue, lei 0752 67212JL

Ply mou th. Boots, 2-6 New Gcorn
| Street Tet 0752 266271.

SeBlccL Curtu ^^iDmpulcr Scrvtca,

Salun CiimrLiIer Simp.

ile Harbour Ro*d Tet 0297 22347.
|Ti vertoo. .Aciroo MKirOCvmpulers,
IV Hampton Slreet 1 et 0884252^54.
DOPSI i

Bmimnmuik ! jnsdowne
I Computer Centre, L [^LisJim-nc
ICrcsctTit ] juiMkiwrte 0202 20165.

D[>rvbe\[er. I lie Paper Shnjft
Kirurv Koid let 0305 64564
Poolt ] jitsdowne Ctmipuier
<Jentre, 14 Amdale Centre.

TeL QB02 670901.

KSSh\
Basildon. HasdJon Sortware
Centre, "X-H0 Ijbertv ShopisnB
Halt tLasi Square. Tet 0268 Z7922.
Hruinlrce. Minna .MJCrOB,
24 BarJr SireeL Tet 0376 48321.
r:hrirn\ftini. Mmuhi Hiv-man,

5 BroomneU Hoad Tet 0245 354595.
CoJehtiw. Bool), 54 I jort
ttatk Tel 0206 577309.
Cokhevter. Cokliesiet Compuier
f^entre, 3a Shon vl\Te SireeL
Tel 0206 +7242

Gray*, H. EtevnoUa, 74 Orselt
Road, let 037? 594S.
Ilurlrrw. HarJuw Compuier Cenlre,
17 Staple lye I et 027V 22846.
Huf nthun: h. Cornpiet CcMtlpUUf
Syitems, 112a North Street
Tit 0402 4467*1.

lUord, Hoots, 177-185 High Koad
Tet 01-553 2T16-
Romford. Sortwire Plus,
72 Nonh SireeL Tel 7065271.
SouTbend-an-Sva, Ctqnpuleruna,
ii London Road Tet 0702 335443.
5«mhcnCr-on-5cA, Citmputer
Centre, 336 London Koad
rtJ ("02 337161,
Southcnd-on-Sca. Lsluarv
Pervnial CoinpLUirs, IIS ChanweJl
S«rih, V'kloria Cirtut Shopping
tJenlre. [ et 702 614131.

GLOftitibTtiK

Cheltenham. Screen Scene. 144 St

GtWgei Road Ttt 0242 52S979.
Glnucnler. ftwls, 3K-*> la«enle
Street T et 0452 423S01.
tLWlfSIIIKI:

Basinestobc. Koois, 1 5 Old
Rilsiii7\-til L Tel llilfi 5 161 1 .
Bournemouth. Hoots, IB- 20

I InntmETcial Road. Tel 112(12 21 M
harehain. ivleetronequip, 36-38
Wltvi Street Tet 0923 230670,
Kareham. tJocKs, 21 Weslbujy
MaU ret 0329 23201]
Portsmouth. Mitrtt t ihotce,

[59 Hsirani Road Dravion.
Tet 0705 32755)1
Porismouih. RI>S Hlrxim-Ltl
'I'onsmouthi Ltd. 157-161
KattBton RiMd Tet 0705 I1247B
Portsmouth, bools. l94.-'204
Commereuil Riuit, Tel 07W 825248.
Southampton, Hoots. 23-29
Abtiwc Bar Sinrft TeL 0703 3339(2>.
V/atcrlooviUc. tj U JVucrolani
7 Queens Parade, London Rd
Ttt 070 5 25«1 1

Itl K I l-MkllSlltKI
Potter* Hjir. J h,- 1 :,,inpu1er Shop,
19" High Street let 0707*4417.
Strvtnjgr. Jl| f .ornpy ters,

II Ttwn3uua're Ttt 0*38 65501.
Watford. SRS Microaiiiems,
*H The Parsde- High Street

Tet 0923 26«3
W*l»yn Garden Ciiy [';
( '-omputers. 40 l-irthernr
let 96 31444

ill Mrirn-sim:

y. rjimfMllflS H'orM,

Beve

10 Swabys Varu. l.lver Lane.
Tet 0482 8*1831

22 Priargate, Rtvtr Head Ca^ire,

Tet U477 42V3I.

HulL Rouiv 48-58 Pnapeci

Centre TeL 0*83 2233*.

HulL Computer Cemrt 26 Analby

R„wi, Tel 5*«2 26297.

isi [ 01 HAW
Douglas, Ml Coleboum,
57-6 T Vinorta SifeeL
Tet 0634 73412

Ashfurd, I'K'rll 10 North Street

'[el 0233 32597.

Beekenhjint Supi Computers.

425 (Jrovdon Road

Tet 01-450 15f»

Bromley. Hoots, 1.48- [54 F itch

S| rteL Tel 1 ■ 460 MiM

Caalhnm, Uouls. 30-3+ Wilmou

Square, Perttaison (Vrnij-t

Tel 063* 405*71.

Gravearnd. tiravesend Heme

Computers, 39 The Terrace.

Tet 047* 28871.

Falk*i<itic- Boot», 24-26 Sandkitc

Koad let 0303 54007

Maidsioae. Hunts, 56 A2 King

Street let 0622 53912.

Maidstone. Kent Alicroa, 5? [ Hn:ii

Sirett Tel 0622 527S4-

H a in ham. Micrrj way Computers,

39 Hrgh Sireet Tet 0634 376702.

Se^cnoass. Ifmest H'lelder

Computers, DorseiSirett

TeL iT''l2 456ei»

ShortEandm, The Villafit House

of Computers, B7 Beckenhvm Lane.

TeL 1-460 7 1 22.

Si tti ncbourne, Cuuipuier Plus,

65 HipSSlrert I et 07% 25*77.

Tunbridge Welts, Hoots. 7- 11

Calvet-levRond Ttl fl«92 26486,

Tunbridge Wells. Modata

I BHWMUJlCeiilrc 2X Wl St |,ihns
Road Tel 1)892 41555.

ia»r r tiirw

Blackpool boots, 28-38 Hank Hev

Si 4 Varndi Sl Tel 0253 22276. '

SlaekpooL Blaclepool Compuier

Siore, 179 flhumh SirE-i-r.

Tet 025 J 20239,

BoltOO, Cnnipulrr World UK

20K 1 horl,-v (>[J h',,;i.l

let 020+ +94304

Burnley. t.Mt X Aimpuler Centre,

39-43 Standish Street

TeL Q3B 54299.

Lancaster, Nunhem IidiLs,

89 .Sootfonh Road Tet fP24 626 14

Preston. 4Mal ( ,'ompuuiK

67 Fnarnaie. lei 0772 5b l«2.

Rochdale, Hoots, 50 Market

Way Tet (TOf, 5^225.

l.tli FSli.HMIIKI
Leicester, Hoou. 30-36 Calkrttiirc
Gale Tet 0533 21641 .
Leicesler. [>A("ompuiers
104 liondtn Ro*t Tel 0533 549+07.
Maurkxl Harboroujih. Harborouph
Home Computer*. ■ ("liMn-b Slreei,
Tet 0858 63056.

LONDON
Wl. Computers cd Miernorc
Streea, 104 Wigfncier SinJet.
Tct 0] 486 0371
Wl. (ialaxv. 230 Tixienham
Court Hoatl TeL 01-6366500.
Wl. Sonic l-oto .Vucnv Cciiil:.
2f6 Tottenham CmoI Row),
Tet 01-530 5126.
WL 'lomorruHK Wlw Id Today,
27 Osmrd Street Tel 01-4397799.
WO. Transain Mkro Systems,
59-6) Theobalds RoaJ.
Ttt 01-405 5240.

WJ. Bot*i 127a Kawrwlon High
Street TeL 01-937 6882.

SET. Vic Oddnu, Mxnm,
6 I ondon Lindgr VX ,ilV_
Tel 01-403 ]1«S.
SP1*. Cusurrjursl Lid, 152 Kve
Lane, ["eckham. Tet 01-639 2205.
FC2- 1 irvron Computer Centre,
155 Moorgate. Tel 01-638 3339.
N14. I AfE Sales, 19 The Boume,
'The Broadwav, Southeaie,
rrl 01-SS2 4942
N2Z. Hoots. 38-40 H ith R L ia,i,
mood Green. Tet 01-8X1 OIOl.
NW4. L>Bhanci (kimpuier Store,
112 Brent Sired. Hendon.
[el 01-202 2272.
NW4. HotflS, Hrtn( Cities
SJiemng Cenlre. I et 01 -202 5256-7.
NWT1. Coiiipuien Ine, *6 Colden
Green. Jet 01- 2V040I.

iMnaTioi m ajcCHBanat

Ahrinttuun, Bools. 13-17
George Sreet let 061-928 4471

Hyde C Tewh Cnmralen, 184
.Marliet Street 1 el 061-366 8223
Manchester. Noras. 32 .Market
Street 'let 061-8326533,
Manchester, Mtghiv .Micro,
Shcrwpud (>ntre, 2rji Wilmalow
Kood [■allowtidd let 061-224 8117.
MaUachuin**. NSC Ci input re
Shops, 29 Hanzinj; Ihtch.
l'eL06[-X32 22?».

Marplc Marpfc Compuier Centre,
106 Church I jne. Tet 061-449 S99J,
Oktharn. ! Jome & Busuiess
Computers 54 Yorkshirr Street
Tel U61-633 [608.
Oldhant Huot\ I '['ownSoJUBne
Shoppug Centre, TeL 061-624 2525
Stockport National Micro
Centres, 36 Sl Peters Gate
Tel 061-129 8080

ftllRSFlSmE

Liverpoot Hj;vi-.-i'.-:^ i|
Warbreck Moor, W'attoa
let 051-525 17B2

St HeVMs, Mtcrunuri Computers,
Raralbrd Industrial listaic, rvtitl
[ jvx, Rainliird Tct 074* B85242,
Southport Hoots, 31-39 Chapel
Siirci. Tet 0704 31907
St Helena, Boots, 8 Church
Sireet,24 I J Grande Arcade.
1,1 tP+4,^+Kh

MHHH l.Sh\

Itamiw, (tamers Arts, 42 St
.Anns Koad, Tet 0M27 5469,
Huuiulerw, Etato, 193-199 Jhgh
Street Tel 01-570 0156.

SouthalL J mllstar Computers t id,
7 RiMim Road Tct 01-57* 5271.
Teddinfton. Andrews, Broad

Street Tel 01-977 +716.

Twickenham. Productive

I JpmputcTS Lid 72 Heath Road

let 01-891 +991

Cibridgc JK1. i jwiniiers,

7 Windsor Wl Tet 089551815.

Jrj£H0LK
Norwich. Ailajns, 125-129 tunc
Street. Tel 0603 22129
TbrtTord. 1 "hrrfiarJCBcV Micros,
21 t ,-jd,Lha]j Street Tct 01t*2 filr^<

h-tTnTNGKAMSHIRK
MausafieW. Hoots, 39 F„. .,
Searana Sboppinjt Centre,
Tet 0621 2W*

.Noiiinghuri. Boots, 11-19 Victoria
CentrtTel 0602470676,
Siitiiryrfiafn, lebtar, 280 Hunnriaii'i
Street let 0602 505585.
Worksop. Computer Graphix
32 Bndjj,e SireeL J et i " * 4^:24^

riOHTHA-HPTOSS HIRE

Kerterint. IkifU, 35 C iold
SiTTct. Tet 0536 514675.
Northampton. Hoou, 9 The

Parade. Tt* 0*04 22571

NOR'mt\MllllRJJsKrJ
Morpeth. I'elerenufSJorthem;
Ltd 31 Ne\t Gaie Sired
TeL 0607 5 1 J5V

■HIIMUKI^

Abingdon. Ivor 1'teldi

Computers. 21 Sten Street.
Tel 0235 2 1 J \V
Banbury. Compuier Plixs
2 fourth lane. Tct 0295 5589ft
Oxford Science Studio, 7 little,
Clarenden Street Tet 0865 54022,
Oxford. AhKauu Sound and Video,
19 Old High Street, Htadiiwrnn,
[l-1 0865 65661

xsmMfi'

AbeideciL Roms, 111 1*1 I mon
Suret let 0224 585349.
Dundee. Root* 49-51 Hiith Street
Tel 0382 21756.

Ldinburgn. Bixitv t01-U39 Prmve*
Sireet. TetllM-225 8331.
Hdmbunh. Mierousirld Ccvnpuler
Cinmp 1. I i-wri Sir: , i

I et <m 228 i 1
Ldinburrh- Ivfartburgh Cwnpulen.
^1-57 LoUuan Road
Tel 031 229+418.
I djiihurgK Silicon Cenlre,
T .Anugua SireeL 1 eL 03 [ SS7 4546.
(Itaflguw. Bm 24X1 SuuchKhtkll
Street let 041 332 1925.
GLasgow, MimnwaTd Compuier
Group, II Bath Street

I'eLO+l 332 [116.

GUsniw. Hoots, Union Street and

iirgyle Sireet Tet 041 248. 7387.

Glasgow, Tom Dixon Cameras,

15-1^ Queen SitrtL

Tet f»l jMid.'r'

tilasjrow, ConuiiiCL* I id
30 Gtadon StrreV Tet 0*1 226 +S78.
Last Kilbride. Boots. 33-37 The
Ptft/A Tel 035 52 20639
Falkirk. Btnti 79-91 Hiah
Smet Tet 0324 20535,
llamiltan, Tom [>mon ( "amerai,
8 Cadzou Sireei. Tel 0698 283393
Peterhead. North BaM
Contpurers. 1 Fibs StnriL

"900.

slimiPSHlKt:
Shrewsbon. Computrrarna,
l3Casuegate. let 07+3 60528.
Ttlfurd. ( ,?m™ier V'iUajje,
2' 3 HazekLne House, Central
Square. Tel 0952 506771.
Telford- TrJrbrd Electronics,
38 Mall 4 Let 0D52 50«1L

SOMHlSf-T
Taunton. Boots, 64-65 H^i
SireeL Tet 0S23 761 in I

STAJ-Tt>«l»SiriIU:
Nrwcastlivundcr-I.yiiie.

f iiBiipuicr Cara'n, 2t The Pandr,
Sd\tTdale. let 0782636911.
Sioke on Ti*nt 1 o«-ti Conrputer
Store, 30 t own Read Hanlei.
Tel 078? 2*75*0,

Stoke on Trent Boots, 3-5 Market
Square, Harden, Tet 0782 23271

SIFLOIX
Bury Sl Edmunds, floats,
11-13 Comhul Tel 02S4 701516.
Bury St Edmunds. The Suflblk
f Computer Centre, 1-3 Garland
Sireet Tel 0284 705503.
Ipswich. Computer Maoc
24 Crown strert I'd 0*7 i Mr*^

SUTutEy
South Crwtkin ['.hum
CJanpuler Consultants. 1 Carlton
Koad let 01-681 6842
Croydon. The Vision Store,
53-59 High Street Td 01-686 63fi2.

Croydon. Boot*. The Mali

12-18 WhtEgLfi Cenlre.

TeL 01-688 6021.

Epscim, The Macro WorMnp,

1 - Slabon Approach.

Tet 0375 72I5TV

Guildford. Guildford Compiler

Cenire, 5 The Quadrant Bridge

Sinrel. TeL 04BT J7B848.

WalLlaurtnn. Sum-, Micro

S-vilcms, 53 w'oodcote Road

let 01-6+7 5636.

W„king, Harpers, 71-73

Commerci al Way. Id 0486 235 657.

Sl'SSIA
Brighton. Bimf^ 129 North Sireei
T&tXm 27088.

Biuhlon. tjarner, 71 Fast Suva.
TeiTt271 729601.

Butrnur Kegis Him 4, Bytes, H«h
Street Tel u5+3 867143.
Eutbaums Boots, 1 5 tijibourne
AmdaJr ( irnut Tet 0523 27742
Horsham. Houii. 1 S«,an tt'ilL
TeL 0*03 53053.
rJoraBBJB. OnJianJ Cnmpulrr
Centre, 3* tast Street
let 0403 64884.

Worthing. Hoots, 48-52 Montague
Street Tef 0903 207106.
IYNK A. WEAR
Newvastle-upon-1 i-ne. Hoots,
FJdon Squan. 1 et 0S3J 329844

Nrweaiue- upin-1'yne

RF f'onnHitmg, Parkview House,

1'rcmt Sireet, * I Jiir Fnd\

let INI 2701740

Sunderland. Husuieu Mwn,

Coftimurt»ja.iKa» Lid, Kehjge

AsMiiancc BuikLngs, Saini Thacnta

Sireet W'iM Sutira*ide.

Tet 0783 65491*.

Aberdjux. Inkev Computer
Services, 7 Mill'Suxet, IV Soum, I
TncyBon let iwi5 ia 1828.
Aberystwvth. Aberdata u
t idoanwi, 23 I'kt Street
IVHJ97t5oI5522.

LJirdirL Book 16 sJuecru Stnrel
* 105 l-ETdrrcfc Street
I el 0222 31291.

CardifL TTw Compuier Shop,
41 I he H aves Td 0222 2r«56el
fairdiH CardiffMKrocanimjtert
*6 Charles Street Tel 0222 V"ar;
Newport ( i*tJii tjimpulers,
92 CVpsttw Koad
Tet 0633 B41760.
Newpnrt lioots, 155-156
Cflrnmercial SmocLld 06' •
Swanant ISidi.v I 7 Si Marvs
.Arcade, Ihe Ouadrani Shomvuiu
Cenire. Tet 0792 43+fil
Swansea. Ihe Micro Store, 35-36
Sinfdeton Strac t Tet 0792 *6<M]

W.tHWlt kSMlki
CnveJiirj. Ivutv 31142 Correnaonl
Street Tef 0203 26561.
LeaenlnMM Spa, Boots,
31 Pbadltct o926 24945
Lfnrnlnjnann Spa.
Hobtm Centre 121 H
Tet 0926 29211.

|rajning1,,in
RaaM ^;:iTt

Nuneaton. Micro Crtv, 1 a Oucens

Road lei 0203 3821)49.

Rugby. O.I.M, 9-11 Rflgenl Sireet

TeF07B8 70522

WtST MJDLANI.-

JJiraiingham. Bouu, ( jiv ( ei-iirr-

House, IfrlT New Street

Tel T021-6+3 7582.

Dudley, Cenind Comtauten.

35 Churehill Precinct

T«t 0384 238169,

Smurbridac tt'ajim f'ornputer

SvMems 12 Hagjev Road

I'd 0384 370H1T

WalsalL New Horuon, 1 I .-.:.■:

Street Tet 0922 2+1

W1ITMIIHI
Trowbridge. VI m 'i'lll.vlirrr
Micros, Wt rutehean Yard
"let 0221* 6^259.

VOJtlLSIIIhl
Bradford Boots. 1 1 I lorlev Street
tel 0274 390991.
Dooeaupier, Bouts. 13-15 trench
Gate, let 0302 62238.
KLimdey- Bouts, 34-40 Cheaptude.
Tet 0226 8261 6.
HudderdTeld .Micro World
(Jumpuierv lOOti-lOlu MjjilI.
KiuJ. rinlhu-jite. I rl 04(14 11*0 II"
lludder-sTield Hoots. 22 Kjhk

Stttel. let (HM4 21

Leeds. Hoots, N Albion Arcade,

Hond Sureti:rurre. [el U".- |

I^edV Micro iWrr, Northwood
House, North Sim-i
K-l U<12*^HMIX)
Sheffield. PIP M*.m
ConimuniuilBBa\1 I .ijpl,,i*ri
Crescent, Broorahill
Td 0742 1*1096,
SbrlTHjW, Ifools. *J5 Hjgh
Street Tel 0742 78333
Wakeftrld I toots, 26- 2* Irjper
Kiripale. I el 0924 37*181.
lWC York Compuier Centre,
7 SlonesBte Arcade.
Tet 0904 641862.

microneL

Phone 01-278 3143 for your free information pack now !
Micronet 800 5 8 Herbal Hill, London ECL

Disc software

THE ARGUMENT over the useful-
ness of Sinclair computers in business
continues. Supporters are mostly in-
dependent businessmen with small to
medium size companies who are also
computer enthusiasts. They have
found that, within Limitations, Spec-
trums, QLs and even ZX-Sls can be
used successfully for speci-
fic , clearly defined tasks.
Although the detractors are
a less homogenous group,
their arguments have consis-
tently centred on the lack of
disc drives.

A bewildering array of
disc interfaces and drives
now exists for the Spectrum
and QL. That is only the
start, suitable software to
run on the discs must also be
found . While commercial
tape or microdrive to disc
conversion programs are
available, and indeed most
manufacturers now include
Be in their system, software
written especially to make
the most of a disc's features
is rare. In part this is caused
by many different systems
occupying what is still a relatively
small sector of the market. Software
houses will not spend a great deal of
time and money on writing programs
that which will generate little or no
profit.

The Spectrum situation seems to be
getting betterj with two manufactur-
ers, Opus and Kempston, setting the
pace for available business programs.
Although neither has yet had any
software specially written OCP, in
conjunction with the designers of the
Kemps ton interface (Abbcydale De-
signers), has converted most of its
business programs to make best use of
the interface. The Opus system has
Mini Office from Database Software,
and Transform is converting its soft-
ware to run on the system.

For the Spectrum more software is
going to be available in disc format
during the coming year, However,
such software is still likely to consist of
conversions to run on the systems
rather than be designed to make the
most of them.

QL software seems to have been

Fast and easy

access can be

yours with a

disc drive

written, in the main, with disc drives
in mind. While Medic has produced
its own business software with its discs
Quest has released CP/M 68 K for its
disc system. The problem is that while
CP/M has become an industry stan-
dard operating system for Z80 proces-
sors with a glut of software written for
it, CP/M 68 K for 68000 processors has
not yet made the same impression and
software is still scarce and expensive.
Again, partly because of the prolifera-
tion of disc systems for the QL (five at
the last count), most of the software
released for the QL in the coming year
will be for use on microdrives and not
for specific systems.

Having concentrated on disc sys-
tems for both the Spectrum and QL it
would be easy to imagine that there is
no place for other storage media such
as microdrives and wafad rives. When
the wafadrive was launched for the
Spectrum it came with its own special-
ly written word processor. Special
Writer. There was also the promise of
a database and a spreadsheet to follow.
To the best of my knowledge those

products are still waiting to be re-
leased and publicity about other soft-
ware for the wafadrive seems virtually
non-existent.

The main advantage of the wafa-
drive over microdrive was its reliabil-
ity. Refinements of the design and
manufacturing process seem to have
ZZTi improved the microdrive's
reliability considerably.

However, the wafadrive still
seems more reliable — an
important factor for busi-
ness users wishing to keep
large amounts of data ,

There is no sign that
further specially written
software is likely to appear
for any of the independent
markets, but all software is
likely to be written to run
from tape or microdrive. If
speicalised software does
appear it is highly likely that
it will be that much more
expensive than anything
already available. Business
software for the Spectrum
probably costs about a tenth
to a fifth of that for recog-
nised business machines,
while for the QL it is about a quarter
of the cost. Although the quality of
some software already matches that
produced for more expensive compu-
ters, the overall quality can be ex-
pected to improve as programmers
find new ways of extracting more
performance from the machines. De-
spite those improvements the cost of
the software can be expected to remain
at a fraction of the cost of the business
software for more expensive
machines.

The majority of business programs
for Sinclair computers are still written
in Basic. Because of the low quality of
Basic games compared to those writ-
ten in machine code some writers have
highlighted that as a weakness of such
programs. That is not necessarily true.
Machine code usually results in a
program which is faster at processing
data than one in Basic, but the major-
ity of time in business programs is
spent in entering data, not in proces-
sing it, Partly because of the games
market there are many more machine

continued on page 69

SINCLAIR USER Annual 1986

1 -J& !l

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code programmers around. That is
likely to result In an increase in the
number of business programs written
in machine code, although the more
specialised programs will continue to
be written in Basic.

Since the arrival of the Apple
Macintosh a great deal of interest has
been focused on WIMPS and how
they make business software easier to
use. In the jargon jungle WIMP
stands for Windows, Icons, Mice
Programs or programs that use a
number of little screens or windows
within the display screen. Each win-

dow can be scrolled independently of
the others. They use pictures — icons
— instead of words for a menu and use
a mouse to enter data.

A mouse is a device which uses an
on screen pointer to pick out and
select icons. The pointer is moved by
running the mouse across the desk and
the icon is selected by pressing a
button on the mouse. So far such
software has been generally available
only for the more expensive 16- bit
computers. However, it is only a
matter of time before WIMPS become
available for the QL.

Windowing on the Spectrum may

be difficult but the Fourth Protocol,

which was recently released by Hutch-
inson, uses icons and I understand
that OCP has a graphics package in
preparation that uses a mouse.

The coming year is unlikely to see
much development of disc based prog-
rams, those that become available are
likely to be conversions of existing
software. However, developments can
be expected as more programs are
written in machine code and program-
mers, possibly using techniques learnt
programming games, stretch the
machines capabilities, allowing the use
of icons and mice.

ANY ADVICE on buying business
software needs to be prefaced with a
word of warning. Before parting with
your hard-earned cash for a business
program you need to be as clear as
possible in your own mind, firstly,
what task it is that you want to
computerise and secondly, just what
you expect the computer to do for
you. The third stage is to look at the
software available and your specific
requirements.

A surprising number of companies,
big and small, have run into difficul-
ties because they have neglected just
that point. Given that computers are
firmly based on logic, it is ironic that
human reaction to them is so often
illogical. A strange kind of mania
sometimes afflicts normally rational
people when computers are intoro-
duced into business. Those who don't
know too much about computing
either take an over optimistic view and
see them as a magic wand to be waved
over a problem, or they fear them as a
branch of the black arts, to be avoided
as far as possible.

On the other hand, there is the
enthusiasts approach, which is little
better, and involves using the compu-
ter wherever and whenever possible.

Introducing

computers

Mike Johnston shows how you can
easily computerise your business

fiK

That is fine for a hobby, but can be
quite lethal in a business, and in the
long run can cost much more than the
purchase price of the software. It
needs to be said that computers are
not always the answer. Manual sys-
tems are quicker and more flexible for
some jobs and inappropriate software
will waste both your time and your
money.

As a first step it is worth putting
dawn on paper how a job works and
exactly what you would like the com-
puter to do. Armed with that, you will
find it easier to evaluate and compare
programs that are available.

In thinking about the way you do
the job now, you need to ask a number
of questions. Is your system likely to
change in the near future? Will it
expand Or contract? How central is the
job to the rest of your business? Is it
time critical? Smaller business systems
like the Spectrum and QL are most
often used as an aid to business — for
example, a word processor for stan-
dard replies, a spread sheet for finan-
cial estimates or for costings, or a
database to hold mailing lists. That
type of use can speed up your opera-
tion or provide facilities you could not
otherwise manage.

However, if you intend to compute-
rise your stockUst or accounts, you
need to be more careful about the
quality of the software you buy and to
think about what you will do for
back-up - — a second QL for emergen-
cies? — and for training.

Large companies pay systems
analysts and designers to examine and
describe the existing job and consider
how it could be dealt with by a
computer. As a small business user,
you must effectively be your own
consultant or systems analyst.

Sinclair computer owners are in the
fortunate position of having a good
deal of reasonably priced software
available. If your experience of com-
puters is limited, you could be in for n
nasty shock if you decide to upgrade
to a large business system. The price
of a single program may exceed the
entire amount you have spent on all
your Spectrum programs,

QL programs are, of course, more
expensive, partly because of the smal-
ler user base, but they are still cheap
compared with ordinary business
programs. And QL owners start with
the advantage of having the four most
common business programs supplied
free.

Reliability

Suitability

The first and most important con-
sideration when looking at software
must be how far it goes towards
meeting your requirements. It is un-
likely to be a perfect fit, and you must
decide if you are prepared to sacrifice
some of the features of your present
manual system to gain the advantages
the program offers.

Alternatively, how easily can the
system be modified to bring it closer
to what you want or to meet your
future needs? Is it fast enough, is
it expandable, is it flexible?

If your latest shoot "em up game
fails to load one evening, or crashes
just as your are about to exceed the
all-time high score, you may be justifi-
ably annoyed. However, if the same
thing happens to your mailing list just
as you are about to make a back-up
copy, or to your accounts program as
it works out your VAT returns,
annoyance can barely describe the
experience. You may lose days or
weeks of work, and potential cus-
tomers.

As a business user, the reliability of
the software you choose must be of
paramount importance. A program
may be forgiven for being slow, poorly
documented and hard to use, but it
can not be forgiven for being unreli-
able if you intend to trust your valu-
able data to it. There are some prog-
rams which give a balance with 0.001
pence in the answer, Others that crash
on simple input errors are mercifully
fewer than they were but are still
around, h is not too difficult to pick

out those watch the system lock up —
preferably before you buy it. Some
suppliers offer a help line or back-up
service, and Lhat is worth having.

Documentation

If the suppliers have bothered to
provide a well written explanation of
how there program works there in a
reasonable chance they have taken the
trouble to make the program
approachable.

Dismal software documentation has
a long history and there is still a lot of
it about. It is often written by prog-
rammers with limited concessions to
the novice, sometimes badly printed,
full of elementary spelling mistakes,
and even factual errors and omissions.
You should not lei that put you off
though, particularly with regard to the
smaller applications programs which
may still be good, despite the poor
presentation.

By all means have a go at computer-
izing some of yor business applications
— it can be tremendously enjoyable
and educational — but unless you are
clear about what you are doing, it will
not necessarUy help your business.

User friendliness

Just how easy it is to use a program
can only be found in practice It
certainly helps if a program starts with
a list of options, offers an easily
accessible help facility when you get
stuck and provides meaningful error
messages when you make a mistake it
is worth checking to see if the program
you have in mind offers those facili-
ties. However, there is sometimes a
trade off between ease of use and
flexibility. Some programs are user
friendly because they are highly struc-
tured and will only allow you to take
certain options.

SINCLAIR USER Annual J9S6

Tailored to
your needs

Mike Wright takes stock of the
best business software around

APPLICATIONS software comes in
many different forms. Word proces-
sing is probably the most commonly
used of these and this is reflected in
the number of programs available.
However, on the Spectrum one, Tas-
word II, from Tasman Software
stands out above all the others and has
done so since it was launched. One
unusual characteristic of Tasword is
the large number of extension prog-
rams available for it f some from inde-
pendent software houses. These in-
clude extensions to allow different
print styles and one to merge data
from the Masterfile database.

Spectext from McGraw-Hill in-
cludes a mailmerge program and a
limited database in the package. Spec-
tral Writer from Softek was originally
released on Wafadrive but is currently
being revamped for general release as
The Writer. I am told that it will be
able to read and write Wordstar files,
allowing you to send files to the office
computer via an RS232 link, Word
Manager from OCP is another that we
can expect to see being released
shortly.

The only word processor available
for the QL is Quill. That was written
by Psion and is bundled with the
machine. However;, supporting prog-
rams are now available. Those include

a number of spelling checkers, the
best of which seems to be Qspeil from
Eidersoft. M- Spell is bundled as part
of Medic Data Systems disc system
and is not generally available. Also
included in their system is At -Merge
which provides a mailmerge facility.
The only commercially available mail-
merge program I have come across is
Quilmerg from Pitch Associates
although I understand that Transform
are working on one currently and that
it will be ready shortly.

Features you should look out for
when buying a word processor include
insertion of new text at any point,
word wrap, automatic justification, on
screen editing, block copy, word
search and replace and margin setting.

Databases vary in complexity from
simple card indexes to full databases
that are more akin to a programming
language than a program. It is general-
ly true that the more flexible a data-
base, the harder it is to use. Before
selecting any database you should
consider carefully what uses it is likely
to be put to now and in the future.
You should also consider the amount
of programming skill, in relation to
your own, required to retrieve in-
formation from it.

The classic Spectrum database is
Masterfile from Campbell Systems.

Less flexible databases include Vu-file
from Psion, Superfile and V-aotch
from Transform and Datagenie from
Audiogenic.

Sinclair Research also publishes two
dedicated databases in Collectors
Pack and Club Record Controler,
while OCP's catalogue includes
Address manager.

The QL comes complete with its
own very good database Archive,
again written by Psion. However, it is
not easy to use effectively and many
companies are now releasing special-
ised routines that save the ordinary
user having to write a program.
Archiver from Eidersoft is one such
program which provides routines for

SINCLAIR USER Annual fm s

invoicing, stock control, mailing list
and appointments system, A mailing
routine is also available from
Transform.

Spreadsheets simulate large sheets
of paper divided into sections and are
usually used for tables and other
numeric work. Features to look for
when selecting a spreadsheet program
include insertion and deletion of rows
of columns, ability to use formulae to
link entries, use of row or column
names in formulae and block copy.
The best spreadsheet currently avail-
able for the Spectrum is Omnicalci
from Microsphere which includes a
histogram plot, a separate Work area
and a cell copy. A recent addition is
the Gmnicalc2 Extension Kit which
allows Omnicalc2 to be used from disc
or wafadrive- It includes a formulae
printout facility and a screen dump
routine. Also available are Vu*Cak
from Psion and Profile! from
McGraw-Hill,

Business Graphics tends to be ap-
plied only to programs that draw
graphs but, using the fullest sense of
the meaning, I also believe that it
includes programs which run an
advertising display or are used to give
visual displays for a presentation. In
Projector 1 McGraw-Hill has a prog-
ram which could be used for all three.
Data can be entered and drawn as line
graphs, histograms, and bar charts. A
series of 'slides' of text or graphs can
be built up, stored and then redisplay-
ed either automatically or manually. If
you specifically want a program to run
an advertising display then Dlan from
Campbell Systems is worth a look. It
will display text in up to eleven styles
and scroll it in any direction.

The QL program Easel is for draw-
ing graphs and no QL equivalent of
Dlan exists. However, I understand
from Talent that they are working on a
program which stores and displays a

series of screens very quickly. It is
called Backdrop and will be an exten-
sion of Graph-QL.

Stock Control programs for the
Spectrum have been produced by
Kemp, OCP and Transform. Each
one has slightly different features that
make it impossible to select the best
program. However, if you have a
Kempston disc interface I strongly
recommend OOP's program. Being
able to display any one of up to 6000
items in under four seconds is almost
worth the cost alone.

Selecting the best Finance/
Accounting package is almost impossi-
ble since every user requires some
slightly different feature or approach.
The packages available range from
those dealing with home accounts
through individual ledgers to com-
plete book-keeping systems. In my
view the best program for home fi-
nance if Finance Manager from OCP.
Either it or its companion VAT Man-
ager can also be used highly success-
fully in business. If you are looking for
a program which will prepare invoices
and keep a record of customers'
accounts then you should consider
Transform's Sales/Purchasing

Ledger/ Invoicing. Manx tapes pro-
duce what is probably the most com-
prehensive accounting package, Clas-
sic Book-keeping. Financial software
for the QL has so far been of a very
high standard with Cash Trader and
Integrated Accounts being released
by Sinclair Research. Home users
aiming to keep the bank account in
check can turn to QL Bank Account
from Cenprime Software, Home
Accounts Manager from Dialog Soft-
ware and Bank Account System from
K Gould stone.

The Investment Monitor from
Michael Slatford Software and
Va£ttrack2 from Morley Davies
Associates are portfolio management
programs. Builders and DIY enthu-

siasts have not been forgotten by J
Redmond. His Building Price and
Plumbing Price are two programs
which will help evaluate the cost of
materials for putting up a building or
extension and installing a central heat-
ing system. For statisticians Unisoft
produces the very comprehensive Un-
istat, while Lobos Software has re-
leased Survey II for analysing ques-
tionnaires. Talking of analysis, Life-
line from William Stuart Systems is a
self analysis and careers counselling
program.

Many had decisions are made in
business because the skills required to
analyse the problem are lacking. Trip-
tych have gone some way to correcting
this with a series of programs consist-
ing of a tutorial and an applications
program. Two of these, Entrepreneur
(accounting and profitability) and De-
cision Maker Con decision theory) are
published for the Spectrum and QL
by Collins Soft and Sinclair Research
respectively.

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IW86 I9NCI.AIRUSER Armani 1986

User-defined F
possibilities

John Gilbert says: Why not stop playing
games and do something useful instead?

THE DEFINITION of a utility in
computer parlance has widened in the
past year. In the early days of the
industry it meant a program which
aided the machine code programmer
to accomplish a task. Now it can have
five meanings.

The first category takes in the
graphics and sound toolkits. Those
expand the Basic command set,
adding instructions which create
shapes, fill them in, and save pictures
to tape or microdrive. The sound
generators sometimes included within
those packages can make musk or
even create a voice for your computer.

Machine code utilities include
assemblers, disassemblers and moni-
tors, all of which are designed to help
you write your own machine code
routines. If you are not up to that sort
of exercise you may like to acquire a
new operating system or high level
language such as Pascal, Forth or C,

General utilities which will teach
you the highway code* help you with
car maintenance or show you how to
diet efficiently are also available.

Graphics packages have the most
visible effect on a Spectrum or QL,
and they have proved popular this
year even with people who would not
normally program a computer. Light
Magic, from New Generation, started
the interest in all things graphical
during 198 5. It carried on where
Melbourne Draw, from Melbourne
House, and Paintbox, from Print 'n'
Plotter, left off.

The program is totally menu driven
and can be operated either under
keyboard or joystick control. There
are five modes of display. The first is
pen mode in which, you can draw on
the screen using an electronic nib.

Circle and Fill mode will allow you
to produce circles and arcs which can
then be filled in with colour. Brush
mode is similar to Pen mode but you
can use 10 types of brush.

The block mode operates in parts,
or blocks, of the screen. It allows you

to rotate and mirror blocks on pic-
tures, saving time if you need to draw
an object which is symetrkaL

Finally, the Text mode enables you
to write on the screen. User-defined
graphics can also be produced as a
UDG generator is included in the
package,

If Light Magic does not impress
you then The Artist, from Softechnics
surely will. It is one of the most
powerful packages on the market.

The Artist can be used to take one
section of a picture and reproduce it
on another part of the screen, where it
can be enlarged or reduced. The
package will also allow you to produce
UDGs and a animator utility is in-
cluded within the program. Not satis-
fied with that the author has also
included a simple routine which will
take a screen display and reduce the
number of RAM bytes required to
store it .

Art Studio, from OCP outperforms
The Artist in almost every way. It has
superior speed to the Softechnics
package and the pull down menus are
easy to use. It can be used with disc,
tape or microdrive and contains a
printer driver which handles most
Spectrum compatible printers. It
should be of use to professional artists
and designers as well as to the home
user.

A similar package came onto the
market for the QL. GraphiQL
marked the entry of quality software
house Talent onto the QL scene. Not
only can the package produce every
conceivable type of line, circle, arc
and angle, but it can also be used to
define textures, using form and col-
our ■ Those can then be used with Fill
routines.

The program allows you to enlarge
shapes on the screen. That facility
enables you to ensure that Fill texture
does not leak out of a shape which has
a hole in its border.

QL Art, from Eidersoft, has the
same sort of facilities as GraphiQL

SINCLAIR USER Amwl W

Utilities

Left, GraphiQLi below (eft, three screens from The

Artist end below right, three from Art Studio

but does not have the same profession-
al edge to it. Unlike the Talent pack-
age it is fully menu driven. One of the
faults with GraphiQL is that you must
rely on the instruction manual or
special help option for information
about user commands.

Illustrator, from (ill soft, is the long
awaited adventure graphics designer
for the Spectrum. It is no ordinary
package as it produces graphic screens
which can be put into adventures
designed by Gilsoft's adventure design
program The Quill. Although the
routine can only produce static screen
pictures it brightens up the adventures
written by its sister program and gives
adventure programmers more scope
for invention.

White Lightning, from Ocean, is
one of the most exciting advances in
graphics design packages for the Spec-
trum thai I have seen in the last year.
Its aim is to allow you to produce high
standard arcade game graphics and , in
order to do that, you must use its
special Forth-type language. The
package combines a sprite generator
with a screen layout designer. It is
great fun to use and its limitations are
only in the mind of the beholder.

A similar package has been pro-
duced for the QL, although Super
Sprite Generator, from Digital In-
tegration, will produce and animate
only sprites and not full screen game
backdrops .

The program adds extensions to
SuperBasie and is run in two parts.
The first is the generator and the
second the animation routine. It is an
excellent package which has been used
by professional programmers to pro-
duce arcade games. Night Nurse from
Shadow Games is one example of its
use.

Only one good example of a sound
toolkit came onto the market last year.
Varitalk produces speech through the
Spectrum Beep unit. Its performance
can be enhanced using a loudspeaker
or by putting the sound through a tape
recorded output channel.

A large number of phonetic sounds
are included in the package. Those
can be accessed by using a code made
up of the first letter of the type of
sound required and the number of
that sound from a list which has been
provided on the cassette inlay. There
are no parameters within the program
to allow you to set emotion or inflec-

tion into the speech. You cannot even
get the package to ask a question
properly.

Machine code utilities may only
appeal to assembly language program-
mers but that audience has grown
larger during the past year, especially
within the ranks of those who own a
QL.

No less than four QL assemblers
arrived on the market during 1985.
The most powerful was from Meta-
comco, The QL Assembler Develop-
ment Kit comprises a full screen
editor, together with a three-pass com-
piler.

The editor can input ASCII code
files and so can be used with code
Basic programs and even word proces-
sor files. Once your assembly code
listing has been entered you must save
it to microdrive T or disc, and then load
it into the assembler program. The
package takes approximately two mi-
nutes — and three code overlays — to
convert the code file into a machine
code format.

Also included with the assembler is
a library of QDOS calls. Those can be
named within you programs. A linker
was put into the second version of the
assembler package at which time
Metacomco dropped the price.

Computer One was also quick to
produce an assembler for the QL, The
difference between it and the Meta-
comco program is that it can be loaded
into the machine complete with the
source editor. You can, therefore,
write your assembly program and then
convert it to machine code without
having to load any overlays from
microdrive.

The Sinclair Research assembler is
similar to that from Metacomco, but it
is not as powerful. Incidentally, the
full screen editor in the package was
written for Metacomco. GST, the
company which wrote the Sinclair
assembler, just does not seem to have
the knack of producing editors.

Adder Publishing was not as quick
to produce an assembler package as
Metacomco and Computer One hut it
did release one after the launch of its
classic QL Advanced User Guide.

The program was similar in struc-
ture to the other products on the
market but adheres closely to the
notation in the User Guide Book.

It was some time before anyone
realised that what the QL market was
missing was a debugging tool such BS a
monitor or disassembler. That was

continued on page 14

ml 1986

SINCLAIR USER Annual t9%

continued from page 73

soon put right, however, as four com-
panies put monitors onto the market
almost simultaneously.

The first program came from Digit-
al Integration. QL Super Monitor is
an economical package, pui out in a
cassette format box. It performs its
task well and allows to view and alter
code in a hexadecimal format.

Computer One was again quick on
the scene with a monitor which fol-
lowed, and was compatible with, its
assembler package,

Not to be outdone Hi- Soft also
decided that it should bring out a
token QL product and opted for
Andrew Fennel's QL MON, Unlike
the Computer One program it is not
automatically invoked when the
machine is powered- up. Fennel's
monitor is a QDOS job and can be
called simply by typing a new Super-
Basic command, MON . As it is easy to
break out of the package back into
SuperBasic the monitor can reside in
RAM, be called at any time, and not
disrupt any of the other tasks being
performed by the QL.

The same technique is used in Tony
Tebby*s QL Monitor which is pro-
duced by Sinclair Research. The pack-
age has all the usual debugging facili-
ties, a one line disassembler, and
routines which displays the values of
the registers or a block of memory in
hexadecimal.

Another good feature of the package
is that you can set it to run on any
channel or in any window. That
means that you could set up several
versions of the program within the
machine, each of which work on
different sections of code.

You may prefer , however, not to get
tangled up in the web of machine
code. That does not mean, however,
that you have to stick to SuperBasic,
or to buying packages off the shelf.
You can still experiment with QDOS
and machine code by buying one of
the toolkits or SuperBasic extension
packages which have just become
available.

The most famous toolkit, of course,
was written by Tony Tebby and can
be obtained for the QL from Sinclair
Research. It provides a whole spec-
trum of new SuperBasic commands
and run-alone progroms which show
the power of the QL multitasking
operating system.

The main body of QL Toolkit
comprises SuperBasic extensions
which control jobs, allocate or clear

memory, and display the status of the
system.

A series of separate programs, some
in SuperBasic, some machine code,
are also included in the package. They
provide a user-defined graphics gener-
ator, an exceptionally fast back-up
utility, and a multi-tasked digital
clock which can be run while the
package is in operation.

One task which the toolkit will not

do is to check microd rives for errors or
repair files which have become cor-
rupt. Those sort of occurrences may
be well known to you. They are
unfortunate but fairly regular and if
you do not have a back-up copy of a
fde you will usually be in trouble.

The Cartridge Doctor, from Ta-
lent, does away with many of the
problems posed by the microdrives. It
checks every sector on a cartridge to

see if any errors have occurred and
informs you if files have been cor-
rupted.

One you know about an error you
can set up the Cartridge Doctor to
deal with it. The most usual way is iu
read the file in and display it in ASCII
format. A cursor is then provided by
the program and you can rewrite any
parts of the fde which have been
damaged. You can even repair the
headers of files if necessary.

Machine code is a low level lan-
guage because you cannot understand
it but the computer finds it easv to
understand. A high level language,
such as Basic, is easy to understand
from your point of view — as a user —
but needs some translation before the
computer can understand it. There are
several types of high level language for
both the Spectrum and QL.

Although Sinclair Basic, for the
Spectrum, is highly respected it does
have some faults and one software
house, Betasoft has brought out a new
version of structured Basic. Many of
the additions provided by Beta Basic
can also be found on machines such as
the BBC Microcomputer, Amstrad
and QL. They include WHEN and
WHILE loops, a real time clock, new
graphics commands and instructions
to make Interface J and microdrives
easier to use.

The Betasoft version of Basic is one
of the best on the market for any
machine. It has undergone several
transformations during its relatively
short three-year life span.

Pascal is another popular language
and can often be found in schools.
Indeed it is on the curriculum of some
O and A level examination boards.

The first company onto the market
with a full version of the language was
Hi-Soft. Although it does not have an
ISO standard of certification, which
most full versions of the language
have, it does run many times faster
than Sinclair Basic and includes Logo
turtle graphics.

The big Pascal launch of the year,
however, was for the QL, from Meta-
comco. The QL Pascal Development
Kit did receive ISO standard certifica-
tion — an award which is to Pascal
what a BSA certificate is to car safety
seats.

The Metacomco package provides a
full version of the language with ex-
tensions for QL graphics and sound
The source code is taken from a full
screen editor and compiled into true

continued an. page 76

SINCLAIR USER Annual I*

PREMIER LEAGUE

and

EUROPEAN TROPHY

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STRATEGY GAMES FROM

E & J SOFTWARE

PREMIER LEAGUE

OUR POPULAR LEAGUE GAME — FEATURES INCLUDE: Training. Team
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AND NOW

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A SUPERB EUROPEAN COMPETITION! STYLE GAME WITH THESE
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Match Injuries, ln|ury Time. Malcn Penalties. PLUS MANY, MANY MORE I
****************************************

SPECIAL FEATURE
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****************************************

4SK SPECTRUM
Both ttwse top quality games use the Full Memory of your Speelmm and can
be played sefjarately or as companion games to STOP SPECTATING —

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Both games are available by MAIL ORDER ONLY at the UNBEATABLE

VALUE of £5 35 flseh\ Or send $AE tor lull details.

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pnc& includes pOsl&ge S. packing (acid £1.00 Outside UK).

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\nniuit ?986

LIGHT

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colours for the Commodore 64,

For educational or leisure use.

Micro Computer Software & Accessories

Sendcheque/P.O.to.

TROJAN PRODUCTS

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THAOE ENQUIRIES WELCOMED

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* (yinrni^rtHi^-Haiiprasaon'UnnQliKMr^^ HAWK WW eay flmMnH p*li 81

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mar — w&lmi m B&mi m mi^vawt*mmmtop'**&V**a0i>vi*-'q&<i*i*-*e I _ s "* I"* ' "^ m ■*"" ™ 1 ™ p

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Bring t prow

* DfS^*1?r«1«l*«SHII»lflW|li^™M»as»rttt.tilir»^o^llirStflO^M«mKEOiaiiici wtt> CS|Tr«oniJ«

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rmMffdcrj me essential spectrum companion

Tih nil ™ ■ «n ot trMaJming SpftUwi «*!«»■■
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wVieekr

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Ih itralutt *ni valid arc vwrlh.-M *lld Ik mum' rt linnM* «iMh1((t
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Cnmptols Spodrum r*j*c ayuamnx wr«linfj,»dAng, Plaring
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> _ (European orders please

I enclose a cheque/PO for*-.,. add E1 overseas E2I

or debit my

Name Card expiry.

Address. ,,.,, ,,,,.♦., ..♦..

Please send me (tick as applicable! -

TRANS-EXPRESS cartridge £9-95 □

disk (Opus Discovery) E9.95 □

MUSIC TYPEWRITER £7.95 P

WRIGGLER Spectrum tape £495 U

WRIGGLER Amstrad tape $ 7-95 Q

MULTIFACE
taps (for m'driveli
wafer (Rotronics)
with supplement
or cart ridge
or disk version

£39,95 D

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■•HIAHTiC E#3#T 77 Dyne Road London NW6 7DR «& 24 hrs

orders 0892 834783

SINCLAIR USER Annual 1986

§M Utilities

continued from page 14

68000 code-
It was the first QL product to
receive a Sinclair User Classic and,
indeed,, it was the first utility to
receive that award for software excell-
ence.

Computer One brought out a ver-
sion of Pascal which while not up to
the standard of the compiler from
Metacomco comes a very close second.
The first version of the package com-
piles the source into P-code which,
although faster than SuperBasic, re-
quires the Pascal operating system to
be in memory. Computer One later
amended the program so that code
could either be translated into P-code
or compiled to form a job which would
run without the operating system
being present.

The compiler is more user friendly
than the Metacomco package — all
sections of the screen editor and com-
piler can be accessed through a menu
based program — but the QL Pascal
Development Kit wins hands down in
the features race.

Metacomco and Computer One
both brought out versions of the
popular artificial intelligence list pro-
cessing language LISP. The Compu-
ter One program is less expensive than
the one from Metacomco. Both ver-
sions can deal with the QL graphics
commands and both are interpreted.

The medium level language C also
proved popular with QL software
houses during 1985. The first com-
pany to bring out a version was GST,
which is famous for the 6SK./OS
alternative QL operating system. Un-
fortunately the product is a version of
public domain RATC, a scaled down
version of the original with additions
to allow the use of QL graphics and
QDOS traps. It is, of course, a com-
piler but the source must first be
typed into a screen editor, run
through a compiler which produces
assembly language source, and put
through an assembler to produce
68008 code. It is an unnecessarily
complex operation and the code could
be compiled in one go if GST had
produced a machine code compiler.

GST also ranks among the com-
panies which brought out QL operat-
ing systems in 1985. Its 68K/OS was
originally intended to be the QL
operating system. The package con-
sists of a$ ROM board, slotted into the
expansion slot at the side of the QL,
and several microdrive cartridges.

As operating systems are usually

judged on the amount of software
available for them 68K70S is a dismal
failure. So far GST has only produced
an assembler and word processor for
its baby. One wonders what would
have happened if Sir Clive had de-
cided to use the GST operating
system.

The C/PM-68K operating system
from disc drive manufacturer Quest
Automation did little better than the

For the

QL Computer

GST product. A few business pack-
ages are available for it but, despite
the fact that it uses discs or microd-
rives, few software houses have taken
up the challenge to produce anything
of note for it.

A large variety of DIY utilities came
onto the market in 1985. They teach
everything from garden design to
touch typing and computer athletics.

Sinclair Research wins our First
Most Useless Utility Award for 1985
with QL Gardener. While it is ob-
vious to see the benefits of a plant
dictionary and garden design package
for those who like gardening, and own
a QL, with the dearth of QL software
the company must be green behind
the ears to bring out such a product.
Where are all the fantastic business
and educational programs which will
show off the true power of the 16-bit
— or is it 52-bit — machine?

Our second MUU of 1985 award
goes to Cair Cure, a program which
aims to diagnose the problems which
you may encounter with your car. AH
you have to do is type in the symptoms
of your vehicle's illness and the prog-
ram will come up with an answer to
your problems — maybe. Most of the
time it just recommends that you
contact a qualified mechanic im-
mediately.

Another car-orientated program
which is marginally more useful than
Car Cure is Highway Code. Through
a series of mulii-choice questions it
will teach you about the signs and
situations which you may encounter
on the road. The graphics are simple,
but effective, and the program has
been checked by a qualified driving
instructor.

II you want to stay fit then Micro-
fitness from VO 2 is for you. It will
take you through a series of carefully
graded exercises culminating in — I
hope for your sake — physical fitness.
When it was reviewed early in 1985
our own Clare Edgeley found out how
unfit she was!

Finally, touch typing programs for
beginners came from QL software
houses during the past year. Two were
produced, one from Computer One
and the other four months later, from
Sinclair Research. Touch l n* Go from
Sinclair Research provides more in the
way of graded exercises and a more
complex results table.

The utility market is the area in
which the QL has done best. There
are many languages available for it and
a host of machine code utilities which
allow the use of the power of the 68008
processor and QDOS.

It is a pity that the same cannot be
said of the Spectrum. Very few utili-
ties were produced for the machine
and most software houses have moved
to other machines. That is unfortunate
as The Spectrum still has a lot of power
within it which lies untapped because
people like you cannot get at it.

SINCLAIR UStfR Annual im

Birds of a Feather =

out all the stops to produce what it

loosely terms a computer generated

voke for the take-off sequence. All

three sections of the games take the

shoot 'cm up category of game to new

lows. Once the first stage, take-off s

has taken place you must destroy as

many aliens as you can while trying to

stay awake at the same time- If you

manage to keep your eyelids open,

then you must drop your bomb down

the exhaust port of the Death Star —

see, the title of the game does have

some relevance to the action. The

game also bears a resemblance to the

Star Wars film, but producer George

Lucas is unlikely to take any action

against the manufacturer. He would

probably say that his film is not a

comedy of errors.

Turkeys

We haven't chickened out! The Sinclair
l/serteam has chosen four prize turkeys
— possibly the worst games of '85

'PORSCHE TODAY, bust tomorrow 1
goes a traditional proverb of the soft-
ware industry. Elite's hideous game
took the bright idea of producing a
tape to promote Dunlop tyres as
wrapped round the wheels of a Pors-
che 91 ITS rally car.

Throw some old scrolling routines
in, pinch some bushes off the graphics
from Grand National to add decora-
tion, strew the road with Jogs and then
wait for the pumers to cough up the
cash. Cough up, gag, gulp and throw
up — 91 ITS is utter trash, and all the
more reprehensible for coming from a
well-established company.

Rumoor has it even the lada ai FHte
were ashamed of this one

Therbo

Action Biker

CLUMSY COLIN is Mastertronic's
junk game compliment to junk food,
in the form of AT Skips, Drive Colin's
flickering white bike around a garish
town in search of his friend Martin, to
get him to the airport. On the way eat
bags of Skips thrown on the road by
people who, presumably, found them
audible. Lucky for Colin it*s all a
dream. Even Mastertronic couldn't
make us swallow this scenario as

realistic.

The bike crashes frequendy, the
fuel runs out, there's little excitement.
Controls are jerky, what actually
moves is minute. Good luck and don't
dally says Masterchronic at the end of
the instructions. Who wants to?

Death Star
Interceptor

THE GRAPHICS is not the only
incredibly abysmal aspect of this
game. System 3 Software has pulled

'A CROSS BETWEEN American
Football and World War HE — that's
what Arcade Software says about
Therbo. Clearly based on that tired
old Rolterball theme, you push a
futuristic rugby ball along the middle
third of the screen to try and score a
goal at one end. There are some
coloured shapes — described by
Arcade as 'shapes that move's I kid
you not — which you can shoot at ii
you feel so inclined.

Unfortunately , for what would have
been a dreadful game anyway, the
computer makes a lousy opponent.
One genile push and the amazing
Therbo will usually chunter into the
goalmouth all by itself-

For sheer point lessness, this one is
in a class of its own.

Ml AIRCSER Annual WS6

UTILITY

(»

I H>

The Quill

VKAh

& The Illustrator

The Graphic
Adventure Writing System

For The 48K Spectrum

The Ouili £14.95

GILSOIT

30, Hawthorn Road
Barry. South Glam
0446 - 732765

The Illustrator £14.95

From Computer shops Nationwide

Or direct from us by post or phone

Credit Card Order Line Staffed 24 Hours Daily

0222 - 41361 Ext 430

SINCLAIR USER Amiuat im

At the sign of The
Dancing Ogre

THE MASTER ADVENTURER Gordo Greatbelly is mystified.

Where can his love, the Lady Marion, be and how can she save her?

To find the answers to those questions he must question closely those

who come to take vitals at his inn the Dancing Ogre, One of them is

bound to know how he can rescue his sweetheart.

Are you brave enough to take on Gordo's task in this unique

adventure game for the 48 K Spectrum? If so you must be ready to deal

with the tricks and traps which programmer Chris Bourne throws at

you and the many artificially intelligent characters who will come into

your bar. We wish you luck . . ,

(986

SWCL AIR USER Annua! 1M6

Program Printout

COULD you run the Dancing Ogre
tavern as expertly as the great Gordo
Great belly himself? Here's your
chance to find out , The Lady Marion
has been captured and locked in pris-
on. To get her out you'll need the
password, known only to the adven-
turers who come to carouse at the
Ogre,

Briefly, what's happening in the
Ogre is shown in the yellow part of the
screen. Your decisions are given in the
black part. Press the appropriate num-
ber key to choose a decision.

Customers will only give you help if
they like you, so keep them happy
with advice or free food and drink.
But don't be too generous — you've a
living to make as well.

To enter the program, type in
listing One and SAVE it. Then type in
listing Two, RUN, and type in the
code. When you have done that cor-
rectly, it will automatically be
SAVEd. Make sure you use CAPS
LOCK throughout.

The program uses special abbrevia-
tions for graphics characters. An
underlined letter should be entered in
graphics mode. For instance, g5 and
ig5 indicate the graphics and inverse
graphics character on key 5. cc4 and
cpc4 are control codes, in this case on
key 4. cpc controls paper, and is
obtained by pressing the key in ex-
tended mode, cc controls ink, and is
obtained in the same way, but while
also pressing CAPS SHIFT. Finally,
3*sp would indicate 3 spaces. In all
those cases, do not enter the brackets
which surround the abbreviations.

79
BB

B3
49

72
65

44
B2

32
76

71
73

41
85

32
7B

4B
77

48
49

32
65

42
73

32
78

77
13

89
84

32
69

Machine Code

65
82

,' 2

."■?

' '_■

^"1

7 ' '

T-n

7"?

a 3

T "•

■*"J

/','

Old

"■ J-l

- ■

— '-^r

fay

SINCLAIR USER Annua! 1986

5 LET z=0

10 LET K =55000

20 PRINT "Enter decimal cod* w

30 INPUT cade

40 LET z=* + l

50 POKE «,CDde: PRINT code;

60 IF z-11 THEN GO TO 100

70 PRINT "(5pl"n IF ead»«0 TH
EN PRINT "( 5 pJ";

SB LET ie=K + l: IF x=56221 THEN
STOP

90 GO TO 70
100 PRINT : PRINT ■ PRINT M Ch*c
k ran against: listing. If c
orrmctt press y. If i

ocorrtct, press n. "

119 IF INKEY*->" THEN SO TO 1
50

120 IF INK£Y*="n" THEN 60 TO 1
60

130 IF INKEY*-"" THEN GP TO 1 1

1 40 GO TO 110

150 LET z=0s CLS t GG TO 00

160 LET x^x-Ui LET I ->0i SO TO
20

170 STOP

Listing two

10 CLEAR 54999: LOAD "SCO
0E"CDDE

11 LET K-Ol LET H0=B» LET HJM-
0: LET 5T=10S LET DAM=0: LET [1=0
I LET T=0: LET CN=0: LET C=B

15 DEF FN AO-INT (RND*11!+1

16 GO SUB 9400
1-0 GQ SUB 9900
25 SO SUB 9:500

70 IF CN=0 THEN GQ SUB 9200
H0 IF RISK. S THEN SO SUB 9000
90 GO SUB 9050
100 IF RND:.5 THEN BD SUB 8400

102 GO SUB 5000

103 GQ SUB 3000
111! 00 CUB 3300

120 IF HO- 12 THEN BO SUB 5400

130 GO TD 70
3BB0 REM CHARCHECK
301B FOR X=l TO 11

B B IF A(X,5>=0 THEN SO TO 305

3070 LET ACX,4)=Ai<X,4>-HMA<X,AJ

3040 REM IF MX, 2KB THEN GO 5

UB FIBHT

7 050 NEXT X

3060 RETURN

3100 RETURN

3200 REM FIGHT

3310 LET P*=A*1C>+" GOES BERSERK

AMD TRIES TO WRECK THE DANCING
OGRE"t GD SUB 9800
3220 LET A<C,2S =A(C,2>+1B
3230 LET D1 = INT ( A ( C , 1 > »CN-ST*CN:
/2>

3233 IF Dl-'l THEW LET Dl«l
3240 LET DAM-DAM+D1
3250 LET T=T+20
3260 RETURN
7-30B REH TIME CHECK
3310 LET rllN-MIN + Tl LET T =
3320 IF MIN<60 THFW GD TO 3350
3330 LET M]N=MIN-60: LET HD=HQ+1
3350 RETURN
7400 REM ENDDAY

7410 LET P=f=-'IT5 THE* END OF ANOT
HERDAY AT THE OGRE, GORDO"; GO S
Ub 9600

3415 FOR X=l TD 11: LET A(C,4)=1
: LET A(C,5)=0: NEXT X
3420 LET M=M-DAM: IF M<0 THEN G
D BUB 3500

3430 LET Pf- 1 INCLUDING DAMAGE VO
U MADE '*5TR* M + '" IN GOLD": GO
SUB 9800

3435 LET CN=0: LET DAM=0S LET T-
0: LET H»Sr LET MIN=0
3440 RETURN
3500 REM BUST

3510 LET P*='YQU FAILED TD STAY
SOLVENT AND LOSE ALL"; GO SUB

9800
S51S PAUSE
3520 GD BUB 3600
3600 CLS : PAPER ?: INK 0: PRINT

ANOTHER GAME Y/N"
3610 IF 1NKEY**"Y' THEN RUN
3620 IF tNKEY*-"N" THEN NEW
3630 IF INKEY**" " THEN GO TO 36
10

-.640 GO TO 3610

3700 CLS : INK 6: FAF'ER

3710 PRINT "OK liQKUQ, WHAT'S THE

PASSWORD ?"
3720 INPUT P*
3730 FDR X=56200 TO 56209
3740 IF P*<X-36199)<>CHR* PEEK K

THEN GO TO 3800
3750 NEXT X

3760 CLB : PRINT "YDU DID IT GOR
DO' AND YOU EVEN MANAGED TO MAK
E SOME MONEY INTO THE BARGAIN"

3770 PRINT : PRINT S PAUSE 100;
PRINT M; " GOLD PIECES TO BE PREC
ISE"! PAUSE 200: IF M< 100 THEN
PRINT "LADY MARION RECKONS THAT
WON ' T BUY MUCH MORE THAN SHE GO
T TD EAT IN JAIL. H
3730 IF M>200 THEN PRINT H LADV
MARION IS IMPRESSED. SHE RECKO
NE WITH YOU BY HER SIDE IT WILL

6"?

7.2

_■ j_

7,7

...

32"

?<i

<SFJ

/:•

BE THE DANCING HlLTUN IN NOT I ME

AT ALL"

37B5

PAUSE

3790

GO TO 3600

3B0B

CLS : PRINT "YDU MESSED IT

UP, FATGUT. LADY MARION HOPS IT

WITH THE GRAND ELF AND YOU BE

T A SWORD IN YOUR BELLY fQR ALL

YOUR

TROUBLE"

3B05

PAUSF

3810

SD TO 3600

4000

REM MINGLING ROUTINES

4100

REM FREE MINGLE OFFER

4U0

LET K-4

4 120

417-0

IF A(C,4)=2 THEN GG TO 415

GD SUB SI 00

4149

RETURN

4150

LET P»="i LET L0C-56B75: L

ET L

4160

=23) SO SUB 9600: GG SUB 9B0

GO TO 4149

4 200

LET K-l

4210

4228

IF A(C t 4>>2 THEN GO TO 425

SD SUB B100

4230

RETURN

4250

LET P*="" S LET LDC=56054l L

ET L

=21: GO SUB 9600: SD SUB 980

4260 GD TO 4230

4300 REM OFFER SERVICES

4310 LET P*»A*tC)+" fiSKS YQU TH 1

S" : GD SUB 9800

4320 LET p*="-; LET LOE-5S000+Z (

A<C»6)+12, 1) l LET L=Z IA(C,6>*I2.

2): GO SUB 96001 GO SUB 9800

4330 LET 00= I NT (RND*3)+1

4332 DIM X(3)

4333 FOR R=l TD 3

434B LET CL=1NT (RND*12>M

4345 IF R»QQ THEN LET CL=A(C,6)

4346 LET X(R>=CL

4350 LET P*=5TR* Rf"<*p)": LET L
DC=5500B+Z ICL,1) I LET L«Z(CL,2>(

GO SUB 9600: GO SUB 97001 PAUSE

[00

LET P*-""

NEXT R

GO SUB 8950

GO TO 4375-5* < (CC>3) OR (CC

4355
4365
4370
4372

l j I
4375
B 4500
4380 IF
UB 4900
4390 RETURN

REM ASK FDR HELP
IF A<C,2>>-16 THEN

IF XfCC)-ACC t 6> THEN GO SU
X !CC)OA(C,6> THEN BO B

4400
4410

flay
4420

GQ TO 4

LET

L- 15:

P* =

ULi

: LET L0O5609B1 L
SUB 9600: GO SUB 980

LET L0C=56113: L
96001 GO SUB 980

LET P*=

4430 RETURN
4440 LET P*"""*i

ET L==39l BO SUB

4445 LET K*»CHR* A(C,3H

A*<C)+" SAYS "+K**" (gpt ■

4450 LET LDC=56152: LET L=42t BO

SUB 96002 GO SUB 9800
4460 BO TO 4430
4500 REM SUCCESS
4510 LET P*= LET LOC-36113: L

ET L"18l GO SUB 76001 GG SUB 980

4520 LET A<C„2)=A(C,21+10

4530 RETURN

4900 REM FAILURE

4910 LET P*=""i LET L0C=55812« L

ET L"33t GO SUB 9600: GO SUB 9B0

4920 LET A(C»2>-AtC ¥ 2l-10

4930 RETURN

5000 REM MAIN MENU

5010 LET P*- M "( LET L DC =55845 1 L

ET L-102: GO SUB 9600: BD BUB 97

j 020 GD SUB

B950

TXAIRUSER AmwatmS

j*W

5023 CC TO 5835-5*1 (CC-;0) OR I CC

4) >

^.025 GO SUB 5BBB*JBB*CC

B "B RETURN

m a, ^F%

■=,100 REM BAR OPTION

ml 2 ^9 1

51 IB GO SUB 8900

1 "^ 1 i^B

51110 RETURN

5200 REM RESCUE MARION

5210 GD SUB 7.7001

52 20 RETURN

Blfl REM MINGLEMENLf

5705 60 SOB 9050

51B7 LET P*= ,, ¥dU SIT WITH U +A*IC

^fc. w ^pjpj Wf flB

j : GD SUa 9B0B

^ — i [« ■ #■ t 'f^k^ — ii ii _ i ■-- t i' nr 1 _ c c n j n _ i

41 Lw ■

5.. 10 LET p*"""i LET LQt-=5596B: L

.m w j ■

El L--<Bi: GO SUB 9600: GO SUB 970

^rp

W ^

5 "328 GO SUB B95B

5752Z GO TO 5325-SM <CC<;i> OR (CC

■

4> i

ST 25 GO SUB 4000+100«CC

l^^t^

5326 LET T=T+15

»fr* T *^ .

5338 RETT URN

5100 REM BAPPINT

54 IB LET P*«""

Jtt Wj$*v*fs^& g^

5415 FOR X=l TO 11

^470 IF A(X,5)=0 THEN SO TO 54^

5425 IF A!X,4) 1 THEN LET F *=P*

*AJ<X)

im # ] |r^\' 1/ ifTAl

5450 IF A(X,4>=2 THEN GO TO 550

5435 IF A!X,4J>2 THEN GD TO 555

J ^ l n| vL^f^A

■ VjjH ■/ ' ^fl mfc* J^r '^^S

5440 NEXT X

5450 LET P*="VOU HAVE -' + STP* M + "

Jk f

IN GOLD"

YWm

5455 SO SUB 9800

i i J I IBS ^b .^^pj

5460 LET P*=*"THE TIME IS ,, +STRt

Bl^i "^^H

H0+- : "+5TR* MIN

Hh kljh

5465 GO SOB 9S00

r ^

5466 LET T = T'+2

5470 RETURN

w^^wJ M

^580 PER DR1NKPRINT

W mW m M

5518 LET P*=AS(X>: LET LOC=55946

Jv ~ m m

t LET L=12: GO SUB 7680: GO SUB

m lf>£^ M b^^^l

9B00

■ hxfiwyiA ^"L^^^fl W

5520 GO TO 5448

5558 REM EATPRIWT

5560 LET P*=AS<X): LET L0C«539Sa

; LET L=10: SO SUB 9600: GO SUB

■

wbvsib

^570 GO TO 5448

6000 REM REACTION

6020 IF A(C r 2)<0 THEN GO SUB 32

60 38 IF CC-1 THEN GO SUB 6050

6040 RETURN

■ —

6058 IF A (£,2X15 THEN GD TD 61

1 %

190

1 *, 1

6060 IF A(C,2>>14 THEN GO TO 61

1 ; >!

6070 RETURN

1 \

6100 REM ACCEPTANCE

6110 LET P*=--: LET L0C=55756: L

I /

ET L = Z3: GO SOB 9600: GD SUB 990

6120 GO TO 6070

1 ^\

6150 LET P**"": LET L0C=55779: L

ET L-33I SO SUB 96001 GO SUB 900

6160 GO TO 6070

■

7000 REM CHARE A TDR INI

7018 LET A(G,4»-(K>2»*3S+tl«3J#7l

LET A<C,1> -A<C,l)+(k<3)*4: LET

ASC,2>=AIC,2)-<K>Z>#2

7B20 RETURN

9100 REM FREE

9182 LET A(C,2)=A<C,2)+2

8185 LET P*« IW ! LET L0C=55716: L

ET L-Zil GG SUB 9600: QO SUB 9B0

8 1 1 GO SUB 7000

BII5 GO SUB 600B

8120 LET T=T+5

B 125 RETURN

yjBB REM SERVE

8205 LET P*="": LET LOC=55711: L

i^i^B

SINCLAIR USER ^ftn«fl/ 1986

Program Printout —

ET L^5* GO SUB 9600; GD SUB 9900

B210 60 SUB 7000

5215 SO SUB 6000

8220 LET M-M+(K<31»l5*(K>2>*5

8225 LET T = T+5

H230 RE1URN

B300 REM REFUSE

8305 LET P*=""l LET LOC-55737: L

ET L = 19: GO SUB 9600: GO SUB 980

83.0b LET A(C,Zl=A(C,2>-2

830? LET P*="": LET LDC=SSS12: L

Lf L=33: GD SUB 9600: BO SUB 9B0

8310 GO SUB 6000

B31S LET T=T+1

B320 RETURN

0900 REM BAR

8905 LET P**" M S LET LOC-5562B: L

ET L = 36

8910 LET K=INT (RND*61+1: 00 SUB

9600
B917 GO SUB 7800

8920 LET F*="": LET L0C*5S656i L
ET L=55: GO SUB 9600i SO SUB "770

8925 GO SUB S950

0927 GO tO 8930-5* ( (L"C: 1 ) OR <CC
>3J J

8930 GO SUB B000+CC»100
8933 RETURN
8950 REM ENTERCHOICE
B960 LET C*=1NKEYS
B970 IF C*-"'- THEN GO TO 8960
0900 LET CC-VAL C*
B990 RETURN
9000 REM CHAREVENT
9010 LET X1=INT (RND*I0>+2
9020 IF X1>CN THEN BP BUB 9200
9030 IF XKCN THEN GD SUB 9100
9040 RETURN
9050 REH CHARCHPOHE
9060 LET C=FN A(l

9070 IF ft(C,5K>l THEN BD TO 90
60

90B0 RETURN
9100 REM CHARLEAVE
9110 LET LV=FN A(l

9120 IF A(LV,5X>1 THEN GD TO 9
110

9130 LET P*=A*ILV5: LET LQC=5559
9: LET L=21: ED SUB 9600: GD SUB

9800
9140 LET A(LV,51-0I LET CN=CN- 1
9150 RETURN
9200 REM CHARENTRV

9210 LET E=FN Ad: IF A<E,51=0 T
HEN BD TO 9225
9220 GO TO 921 H

9225 LET A(E,5>«ll LET CN=CN+1
9230 LET P*=A*<E?s LET L0C^55584
I LET L=15: SB BUB 9600: GO SUB
9G00

9250 RETURN

9300 RESTORE 9350: REM SET UF CH
ARACTERS

9305 DIM A(ll,6>3 BIM ft*(ll,B>
9310 FDR X-l TD 11

9315 READ AKkI: LET A (X, 51=0: L
ET A(X,4)=1: LET A<X,61=X
9320 FDR ¥=1 TD 2l LET AIX,Y>-1N
T (RND»101+2f NEXT Y
93Z5 NEXT X
9330 LET T*=""

9332 FOR X=56200 TO 56209: LET T
r=T*+GHR* PEEK Xs NEXT X

9333 LET T* = Tf*'"M"

9335 FOR X=L TO Hi LET Tl-FN At
): LET T2-FN AOs LET S»=T*<Tl)l
LET T*(T1>-T*(T2>: LET T*<T2)=S
*: NEXT X

9340 FOR X=l TO 11: LET A(X # 3>=C
ODE T*(Xi : NEXT X

9345 FDR X=«l TO lit LET Tl-FN A(
>: LET T2-FN At); LET T3-A(T1,6)
: LET A(T1,61=A(T2,6): LET AfT2,
&1-T3; NEXT X
9350 DATA -ABAGGORD" , "BOIL BEAK " ,

"CROISSEL", "DOM DZ IN" , "F I ARRACH"

, "HUGH TAB » , "K ' TRASKT " , "L ISSOMEL

", "MOR-FAIN", "EL NAZ 1R" , "£0M SAF

9355 RETURN

9400 RESTORE 9460: REM LOCATIONS

9410 DIM Z (23,21

9420 FOR X=l TO 2

94 7-0 FOP V=l TD 23

9430 READ ZtY,X)

9450 NEXT Y

9451 NEXT X

9460 DATA 0,21,40,55,74,05,104,1
26,147,161 , 172, 197 ,2 12 ,23B,2f3

0B , 344 , 373 , 4 15 , 464 , 493 , 525 T 553

9461 DATA 21,19,15,19,11,19,22,2
1 , 14, 11 ,25, 15,26,44, 26,36,29, 42 T

49,29,32,78,31

9490 RETURN

9500 REM SPECIAL STRINGS

9505 IF (PEEK LOCI -44 THEN LET

Pt=P*+ n HQW DO I"

9510 IF (PEEK LOCI =32 THEN LET

F*=P*+" (sp)"

9515 IF (PEEK LOCI =38 THEN LET

p*-R*+"THE DANCING OGRE"

9520 IF (((PEEK LOO =461 AND *K

31 1 THEN LET P*=P*+ "FOOD "

9525 IF (((PEEK LDC1=46) AND <h

2)) THEN LET P* -P* + " DRINK"

9530 IF (PEEK LOO -47 THEN LET

P*=F*+A*(C1

9535 IF (PEEK LDC1=40 THEN LET

P*-p*+'YOU"

9540 IF (PEEK LOCI -41 THEN LET

P*=P*+"THf

9545 IF (PEEK. LOCI =42 THEN LET

P*=P*+"GET H

9550 IF (PEEK LOCI =45 THEN LET

F*=P*+- SERVE"

9555 IF (PEEK LOCH-43 THEN LET

PS=PS+"DEAL WITH"

9590 Gd TO 9630

9600 REM GET CHARACTERS TO P*

9610 FOR X=l TO L

9611 IF (PEEK LOCK 40 THEN GD T
D 9500

9620 LET P*=P*+CHR* (PEElr LOCI

9630 LET L0C=LDC+1

9640 NEXT X

9650 RETURN

9700 PAFER 0: INK 6

9710 FOR X-17 TO 21 1 PRINT AT X,
0; " <32*Sp> "S NEXT X; LET L=LEN F
*l PRINT AT 17,0;

9720 FOR X=l TD L

9730 PRINT Pf ( 1 ) I

9740 IF X=L THEN GO TD 976B

9750 LET P*=P*12 TO 1

9760 NEXT X: RETURN

9BBB PAPER L; INK I

9810 FOR X=2 TO 14: PRINT AT X,5

I " (22#»pVs NEXT X

9820 LET L=LEN PS: PRINT AT 3,5t

9830 FOR X=l TD L

9O40 PRINT P*U)iJ IF INT U/22)

=(X/221 THEN PRINT " (cc2 ,cpc6 , g

5 -AAA l q5.q5. AAA . ig5,ccl>"(

9850 IF X-L THEN GO TO 9870

9860 LET P*=P*(2 TO )

9B70 NEXT X: RETURN

9900 RESTORE 9920

9910 FOR X-l TO B: READ A: POKE

USR "A"+X,Al NEXT X

9920 DATA 153,102,153,102,153,10

2, 153 » 102

9930 FOR X=l TD 64: PRINT " (cc2,

cpc6,ig3);: NEXT Kl FOR X=l TD

13: PRINT " (cc2.cpc6.p5 .AAAi q5.2

2»5 P ,q5, flflA , ig5"; : NEXT itt FOR X

= 1 TO J2-. PRINT " (ct2,cpc0,q31 "|

t NEXT X: FOR X-l TO 6; PRINT "(

32*=pJ": NEXT >:

9940 80RDER 2t INK 0: PAPER bt R

EM END SO FAR

9950 RETURN

LAIR USER Armwtm6

WDSoftware

Rotten value if you want pretty
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FOR THE SINCLAIR QL:
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programs and files, or to BACKUP whole cartridges without
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microdrives, Automatically number and date your
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WD Utilities for Discs
£10 on 5V4 — £12 on ZW

Different version for CST or MicroPerjpheral Discs

All the benefits Of the mdv utilities plus enhancements to
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backups from one to the other. Over 100 filenames
displayed at once Cut out 95% of keystrokes for most file
handling.

RefQL, the QL Database. Frequent new editions

£2 each mdv or SW, £4 each 3W disc, plus £(edttion)

An easy-to-use ARCHIVE(2) search/print program plus a
growing database (usable with version 1 as well) and cheap
updating. Where to find listings, reviews, instructions for
printer connection, or hints and tips for the QL, Each edition
holds 200 references more, costs £1 more than the last.
Edition 5 fills an mdv with 900 rets, edition 6 will need two
mdv or one disc, will have 1,100 refs When you read this,
we might have edition 9 with 1 ,700!

FOR THE QL SPECTRUM & BBC

(others to follow)

WD Morse Tutor
£4 cassette or add media price above

The fast, efficient way to I earn to read Morse Code. You can
start ignorant, continue beyond RYA and Ham Radio
standard. It has more helpful features than any other
program or dedicated machine at many times the price-
Discs unsuitable for B8G+.

FOR SPECTRUM

(others to follow)

WorDfinder £10 on mdv/SW, £1 on ZVz

For CHEATING at crosswords. Fills m-ss-n- letters, (10
letter word ending ATE, etc), and solves anagrams. 13,000
word vocabulary so not on cassette.

Tradewind £4 cassette or add media price

Trading, sailing strategy game.

Jersey Quest £4 cassette or add media price

Text adventure, based On real folklore,

Prices include postage in Europe Add £1 elsewhere.

ACCESS/MasterCard welcome,

Send for more details or order from:

WDSoftware, Hilltop, St Mary, Jersey, CI
Tel: 0534 81 392

LOAD, SAVE, CLEAR,
PLAYBACK SOUND
without unplugging leads!

Spectafly ctesigned , using British components, and carrying fui 1 1 2
months guarantee, fhi 5 unit is quick and easy to install with no
modification to, or dismantling of, existing equipment

FEATURES

THI ROTABY SWITCH

S#ftfc*^

r..mrt-

5AVC

Fnatnei Program to t* idnd

LOAD

Eftobm immedene taxing or piagnrn

PLAYBACK

Enow* ptovtodf of mund *tau& a-*m

rij AlTBHfiGI.Mwic C**» Fi**f Of
I'HjCoiienerecofOeHSfjHiSk™- Nft k> do *v jot* uug m

OfAB

Aia rerfuty '•anm bofh ifie noKsy iwt«f* net* *i bm mt of
CLEAR . and th* option aowm «» wflinfl aamHH tar J
WCOrOl. tellore *« CC<YnM*r fnamgiy .; CQfriplaiWy

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PfflfpntBin >xmpJ«*a^ piotsciBd. (*** BehartfwfriynijnBpoiftgniptjm^f.
oven h ifey aa 'a*v nhg

Q£Aft mem* ■&*/■*&'* ■"fmr butty dapuwad, ona twrfoi ■> tf CLEAP
DopfeswgitwtxjfGT wfliiwiicnn my tuner ccwiio"fias ncs«*Hor. ih»
Op— tfiun

Eattybird,?! CleneaglesDriw, Pemwortham, Preston PR1 OJT

MAIL ORDER ADVERTISING

British Code of Advertising Practice

Advertisements in this publication are required to conform to the
British Code of Advertising Practice. In respect of mail -order
advertisements where money is paid in advance, the code requires
advertisers to fulfil orders within 28 days, unless as longer delivery
period is stated. Where goods are returned undamaged within
seven days h the purchasers money must be refunded. Please
retain proof of postage/despatch, as this may be needed,

Mail Order Protection Scheme

If you order goods from Mail Order advertisements in ths magazine
and pay by post in advance of delivery; Sinclair User will consider
you for compensaton rf the Advertiser snould become insolvent or
bankrupt, provided:

(1) You have not received the goods or had your money returned;
and

{Z) You write to the Publisher of Sinclair User summansing the
situation nol earlier than 2S days from the day you sent your
order and not later than two months from lhat day

Please do not wail until the last moment lo inform us. When you
write, we will tell you how to make your darm and what evidence ol
payment is required.

We guarantee to meet claims from readers made in accordance
with the above procedure as soon as possible after the Advertiser
has been declared bankrupt or insolvent (up to a hmii of El 0,000
per annum in respect ol all insolvent Advertisers Claims may be
paid for higher amounts, or when the above procedure has not
b&sn complied with at the discretion of Sinclair User, but we do not
guarantee to do so in view of the need to set some limit to this
commitment and to learn quickly of readers difficulties
This guarantee covers only advance payment sent in direct
response to an advertisement in this magazine (not, for example,
payment made in response to catalogues etc, received as a result
of answering such advertisements) Classified advertisements are
excluded

SINCLAIR USER Annual im

irn
M

Helpline

ANDREW HEWSON is highly regarded as a Spectrum expert. His

regular column in Sinclair User, has been running for three years and

has helped answer the questions asked most frequently by the

thousands of users who read the magazine.

In this special edition of Helpline he shows how you can get to grips

with user-defined graphics and explains how sprite graphics can be

implemented on the Spectrum without the use of additional hardware.

I 1986

SINCLAIR USER Annual 1986

IT'S 1985 — THE YEAR
OF COMMUNICATIONS

Why hgy programmes for your Spectrum when a world of tree

"lElEsoftwgrt' is open to you, Discover Piestel, Micronet 80G,

Viewfa*, bulletin boards- and open a whole new world. Even, user to user.

Everybody's doing it — linking their home computers lo giant mainframes

and networking to thousands of other micro users via the phone and a modem.

A whole new world of mainframe games, electronic mail, free 'telesofrware', eleclronic

notice boards, real lime conversation, armchair shopping and home-banting will be at

your fingertips! And al local and cheap rate, phone charges are only around 40p for a whole

hour's entertainment,

Spectrum 16k, i&. Spectrum * The VIX 50Q0 Modem comes complete with all the software

(in ROW required to access the world of electronic communicalions, networks, tetesonwane and databases

(both public and private. I

(User to user software on cassette £3.95 extra \

Terminal Emulation Software Package to link to commecciai databases end bulletin boards which use ASCII
format on cassette £6 96.

TTt* VTX SOW requires no external power and fits under your Spectrum to become part of the machine.
Only one iead links your computer <o the outside world.

FOfl THE SPECTRUM 16K, «K AND SPECTRUM + THE VTX 5000 IS AVAILABLE AT A VERY SPECIAL PRICE
£69.95 inclusive of VAT and P&P
Order your VTX 5000 NOW and get a FREE quarter's subscription to Micronet 800 and ViewfaS
Ail modems provide 1200/75 baud, enabling access to
Prestei, Micronet 800, BT Gold, Farmlink, Citiservices,
Homelink, and some free bulletin boards (some
databases and networks require a small subscription}.
Fully BT Approved,

Simply clip the coupon and send it with a
cheque (payable to Modem House) to;

MODEM HOUSE
70 Longbrook St
Exeter,

Devon EX4 7AP
Tel: (0392)69295

Ptaase send tome:

Spectrum Moderns) £69.95
G User to user software £3,95
□ Terminal

I enclose £_

Name

Address-

Telephone.

Please allow 28 day delivery

£6

SINCLAIR USER Annmi

Helpline -

IN THIS COLUMN I cover two
related topics. The first shows you
how to create new user defined charac-
ters and access them. In the second I
discuss the simulation of sprite effects
on the Spectrum screen, and in par-
ticular explain how lo obtain flicker-
free moving graphics.

There are two methods for creating
new characters other than DRAW,
PLOT and CIRCLE commands
which are too slow and cumbersome
for most purposes. The simplest is the
user defined graphics facility in which
up to 21 new characters can be defined
and assigned, one to each of the letter
keys A to U- The form of each new
character is stored in eight bytes of the
168 bytes reserved for that purpose
above RAMTOF, at the top of mem-
ory. The character assigned to a given
key can be obtained bv pressing the
graphics key — CAPS SHIFT 9 —
before and after the letter key.

The method of encoding and decod-
ing the eight bytes can be understood
with the help of some knowledge of
binarv numbers. Every character in

the Spectrum character set — and
every new character created by you —
is defined relative to an eight by eight
grid. Each element in Lhe grid is called
a pixel which can be set to either the
INK or the PAPER colour. It is the
precise arrangement of INK or FAP-

iS\

'You can create
new user defined

characters and
flicker- free
moving graphics

ER coloured pixels in the eight by
eight grid which creates each char-
acter.

Each of the eight bytes devoted to a
character defines the setting of one
horizontal line of eight pixels using the
following system. The contents of a
byte — which lies in the range to 255
in decimal — is read as an eight digit
binary number, so there is a one-to-
one correspondence between pixels

and binary digits. A binary number
consists of zeros and ones only. All
pixels for which the corresponding
binary digit is zero are set to the
PAPER colour, whereas all pixels for
which the corresponding digit is one
are set to the INK colour.

Very often the first and last bytes of
the group of eight controlling a given
character are zero. Those two bytes
determine the top and bottom of the
character, and a zero setting ensures
thai all corresponding pixels are set to
the PAPER colour. Thus when the
character appears on screen it is sepa-
rated from other items on the lines
above and below. For a similar reason
each byte usually contains an even
number which is Jess than 128. As a
result, all pixels at the right and left
arc set to the PAPER colour enabling
that character lo be distinguished
from its fellows on either side.

When the Spectrum is first switch-
ed on, the UDG characters are set to a
copy of the capital letters on the
corresponding key. It is a simple
matter to alter those characters. Table

<at!986 I SINCLAIR USLR AnmttlltQSfi

one lists a Basic program which does
the job. Also listed in table two are the
numeric codes for the letters in the
Greek alphabet.

for most purposes despite the limita-
tion of 21 characters per set, but the
user should also be aware of the
technique for redefining the ordinary
character set.

There are 96 characters in the
ordinary Spectrum character set. That
starts with character code 32 — the
space or blank character — and ends
with the copyright symbol — code
127. They are defined in an analogous
fashion to the user defined characters
by a table which is held in ROM at
address 15616. Each definition is held
in eight bytes making the table 768

That system is designed to provide a bytes long

set of 21 new characters at most. The address of the beginning of the

Additional sets can be defined by table is 256 more than the value held

altering the UDG systems variable in the CHARS system variable, io-

held at 23675 and 23676. The number cated at 23606 and 23607. Bearing in

in UDG is the address of the first byte mind that the code of the first charac-

of the first graphics character, that is, ter in the table is 32, it can be seen that

the character assigned to the A key, the address of the first of the eight

When the Spectrum is switched on it bytes defining a given character is

is set to 32600 — 16K machine — or PEEK 23606 + 256* PEEK 23607+8

65368 — 48K machine — - reserving ^character code.

168 bytes for the 21 characters bet^ Creating a new character set from

ween the UDG address and the top of scratch is a complicated task as the

RAM- shape of each letter or digit must be

In principle UDG can be changed to worked out in detail. The best tech-
point to any address in RAM, but the

simplest approach is to reduce it by
168 for each additional character set
required. It is also necessary to reduce
RAMTOP by a similar amount so that
the graphics characters do not inter-

the ordinary video signal on its way to
the television, and modifies it to create
the required picture element.
There is an unreal quality to this

mque is to move RAMTOP down by
768 bytes, copy the entire Sinclair
character table into the area above
RAMTOP, and then reset CHARS to
point to the new area. That is the
function of the program in table three,

fere with the stack thereby causing New characters can then be created as idea of changing the video signal from

rXmtAp CtaSh ' „ modifications of the Sinclair originals, its proper form as derived from the

lessen *, ™H^T fn? S T lher % ,S ■ . CMsiderabIe **"« ™mory map, and that is reflected in

J^VaS - ^° and the amon S sl Whur owners in techniques the use of the word sprite, with its

<- L ™ instruction must be used to for putting sprites on the screen, and images of elfs, to describe the effect

alter it. Thus, to create space for one that is no doubt spurred on by the generated. The form of the sprites -

additional set of graphics characters many interesting effects generated by their colour, position and shape - is

professional games companies, Unfor- controlled by the values of various

tunately, a typical good game takes six parameters in an analogous fashion to

months to write and it is impossible to the way in which the system variables

describe fully the techniques used in a control functions in the Spectrum

smgle article. All ! can do is give a The main advantage of a hardware

inic nrS-- tW ° ?stc of one aspect — how to produce sprite system is that it allows the

ifnr -?7*-Sk* iu -Aoim 9^f-6« fpriteS- central processor chip to delegate the

Tl«, u J 5Jd !^ m u . ^ WOrd SprUe refeK to a picture ^lion of multiple moving elements

Ihdi leases 65536-65200=336 bytes element superimposed on the video on the screen display, leaving it free to

between the address pointed to by signal which is separate from the main work on other tasks! The result is that

L DO and the top of RAM which is body of information taken from the games and other programs which use

enough space for two tables, each 168 computers memory map of the screen the sprite hardware are able to run

-I? "J"£_ c ... _ L , display. Imagine the existence of faster than they otherwise would.

special hardware which int ercepts Thus it may seem surprising that

the Spectrum should be popular as a

on the 16K machine enter

CLEAR 65199

POKE 23675,176

POKE 23676,254
The CLEAR command moves RAM-

10 INPUT " ENTER THE LETTER TO BE REDEFINED

20 LET At = CHRS (CODE AS - 32 # (AS > " £ '

30 IF AS . "A" OR AS - "IT THEN BEEP 2,24 : GOTO 111

40 FOR I = TO 7

50 INPUT " ENTER BYTE NUMBER " ; J

60 IE J h OR J r 25S THEN BEEP .2,24 : GOTO 50

70 POKE USR AS + I t J

80 NEXT I

Table 1. A Spectrum program for defining new user defined graphics characters.

games machine even though it con-
tains no sprite hardware. The reasons
for its continuing success are complex
but there is one important contribu-
tory factor. The Z80 chip at the heart
of the Spectrum has a large numher of
register orientated instructions and 16

SINCLAIR USER Annual 19S6

* s

t JUJJ

bit instructions which allow it to
execute relatively complicated
routines quickly.

In contrast, the 6502 at the heart ol
the Commodore 64 — a sprite
machine — has a large number of
addressing modes but few internal
registers and 16 bit instructions. Ii is
as though the Z80 chip is very good at
talking to itself whereas the 6502 is
designed to talk to other chips. Thus

the Z80 is able, to some extent, to
make up for the lack of supporting
hardware by working harder itscll .
Needless to say, good programming
techniques are required in order to
exploit the extra sophistication of the
Z80.

Sprites are moving objects and so a
simulated sprue must move around
the Spectrum display file, perhaps
changing its form as it does so* Thai

Letter

Lower case code is

Upper case codes

Alpha

124

Bclit

112

L12

120

Gamma

124

Delta

<Wi

124

Kpsikm

124

120

124

Zcta

112

1.14

124

Eta

112

124

Thcta

120

124

lota

Kappa

Lamda

108

6ft

6)i

S'u

100

112

124

Omicron

248

253

Rho

112

120

Sigma

124

Tsu

120

124

Upsilon

Phi

Chi

Psi

«4

Omega

108

Table 2.

Eight byte codes for forming

lowe

r and

upper case

Greek characters.

10 LLl-AR 64 ?w

20 I OR I U TO 767

30 POKE 64600 t I . I'll K L54W + li

40 NEXT I

50 POKE 2*606 , 8K

60 POKE 23607 , 2SI

Table 3, A 4SK Spectrum program let

move the character table antive RAMTOP

and reset the CHARS system van-ibk- i«

point to the new table. For use on a 16K

machine alter the hilhiwinj; linus:

10 CLEAR 31831

60 POKE 23607 , 123

means there must be some mechanism
lor deleting the sprite from its old
position and plating ii at its new
position. The deletion phase normally
comes before the placing phase
all hough that is not essential. What is
essential is that there must always be
one, and only one, version of any
given sprue in the display file when
the scan is made to transfer the
information to the television screen.

To understand how this one and
only one rule operates, some know-
ledge is required ul the way in which a
TV picture is constructed. In the UK
a TV picture consist ol 62? horizontal
scan lines. Each line is refreshed every
fiftieth oi a second in Lin allernalircg
sequence — all odd numbered lines
are refreshed in one sean and all even
numbered lines are refreshed m the
next. That ensures a eomplete picture
is constructed every twenty-fifth of a
second .

A scan of hah the lines actually
takes less than a fiftieth of a second to
complete SO there is a short delav
he t ween the construction of each hall
picture. That delay allows the
electron beam — which writes the
picture on I he screen — enough time
to fly back from the hot turn right of
the screen to the [op left. There is then
a synchronisation pulse which ensures
that the writing of the next scan starts
at the correct instant.

Clearly, if a complete half scan takes
about a fiftieth of a second, the
maximum amount of time between
deleting a sprite from its old position
and placing it in its new position is
also about a fiftieth ol a second. The
cost of not replacing the sprite in time-
is that the sprite image dickers as it
disappears and reappears. The timing
ol [he deletion phase is obviously
important and the best way to keep
track of it is to use the least significant
byte of the FRAMhS system variable,
located at address 23672, as a clock
tick. That Variable is up-dated every
fiftieth of a second in time with the
synchronisation pulse of the TV

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■

Books

AS THE market becomes more sophisticated, authors have had to

cater for the needs of new groups of users.

If hacking is your pastime or machine code is your staple diet then

there are books for you. On the other hand, if you prefer a gentle

introduction to Basic or SuperBasic you will find thai whole shelves

have been dedicated to your needs.

John Gilbert sorts through the mountain of computer literature which

has kept users happy during the past year.

/VS6 I SINCLAIR USER Annual 1986

ALTHOUGH few authors have pro-
duced computer books which have
reached the besi seller lists, technical
authors must be amongst the most
prolific writers in the world. A literary
mountain was produced irt 1985 alone,
in order to further the knowledge of
Sinclair computer owners and the
popularity of Sinclair machines.

One author who almost reached the
non-fiction best seller lists was Hugo
Cornwall with The Hacker's Hand-
book, a slim but explosive book from
Century Hutchinson, Hugo Cornwall
still remains an enigma, even his name
is a pseudonym.

The Hacker's Handbook is a skil-

ful mixture of personal experience,
stories from secondary sources and
practical information. Indeed, the way
in which the book has been written
leads me to suspect that Cornwall is a
journalist as Well as a hacker, or thai
the book was ghost written by some-
one from Century Hutchinson .

The practical information in Corn-
wall's hook nearly landed him — her?
— in trouble. It begins harmlessly
enough with an introduction to in-
novations in communications technol-
ogy. Once past that, and some in-
nocuous remarks about his program-
ming experience, Cornwall starts get-
ting technical — and goes way beyond

ZX SPECTRUM 48K COMMUNICATIONS GUIDE

the definition of baud rate.

Although Cornwall gives informa-
tion on communication protocols and
how to go about finding passwords for
various types of system, he is careful
to point out that hacking is done more
as a sport than as a criminal action. If
it were more than that, banks would
be defrauded daily, and our security
installations would be broken into
every evening,

The same point is made in a book
written by Geoff Wheelwright and Ian
Scales, published by Longman. It lew
is called The Hacker's Handbook,
although it takes a slightly different
angle on the subject.

The authors have been careful to
steer away from controversy. They
eal specifically with the Spectrum

Books -

and how it can be connected to sys-
tems such as Micronet 800 and Preuel.
An overview is given of both systems
together with information on how to
connect your computer to a VTX 5Q00
modem.

The final section of the book takes a
look at electronic mail and bulletin
boards. Telephone numbers are given
to allow access to board* which are
open to the public. Although Wheel-
wright and Scales are not as revealing
as Cornwall about the secret world of
the hacker, their introduction 10 the
subject is practical and interesting.

Another subject of major interest to
the computing public, especially QL
owners , has been the secrets contained
within the QDOS operating system
which has been so highly vaunted by
several books . There are no fewer than
jfaree titles on the market which jostle

for acclaim as

the best book

I about QDOS.

They are The Advanced QL User's
Guide by Adrian Dickens, from
Adder; The QDOS Companion by
Andrew Fennel, from Sunshine; and
The QL Technical Guide by Tony
Tebby and David Karlin, from Sinc-
lair Research.

The books from Dickens and Pen-
nel are very similar in structure. The
first to appear was the one from
Adder. Dickens managed to obtain
the QDOS documentation from Sinc-
lair Research and put together a book
using it. The result is^ none the less,
impressive and, despite the mistakes,
provided an introduction to the 68008
chip and operating system. Each
QDOS trap was listed and examples of
its uses were given,

As well as discussing memory man-
agement, graphics, sound and file
processing, Dickens also included a
chapter in which he showed how
SuperBasic worked. Detailed appen-
dices showing the memory map, full
68000 instruction set and microdrive
formats were also
provided.

Pennel's book differs only slightly
from the advanced guide. It arrived on
the market four months after Dickens'
book and the result was a text full of
examples which had obviously been
created by the author.

The companion is structured as a
graded introduction to mu I ti -tasking,
Input/Output, device drives and the
QDOS utilities. Information is also
included on the 8049 second proces-
sor, which acts as a control for the
keyboard and sound, as well as an
explanation of how to create external
ROMs,

The third book, from Sinclair Re-
search, resembles the QL Advanced
User Guide but was rather a dis-
appointment. It provides all the in-
formation that you would require to
program QDOS but its style is clini-
cal, with almost no examples to illus-
trate the wealth of knowledge given by
the authors. It is a humourless read
and, even as a reference book, lacks
depth. The one or two paragraphs
used to describe each trap, exception
or interrupt are barely enough. Tebby
and Karlin could at least have in-
uded a section detailing an example
of QDOS in action. As
it stands, the
authors expect
readers to share
their competence
— not a healthy
assumption for any
technical writer to
make.
The Psion bus-
iness packages, bun-
dled with the QL,
did not escape the at-
tentions of authors last
year. Three companies
brought out books
which cater for the bus-
iness or home user who
wants to put Quill, Arch-
Abacaus or Easel to
work.
Hutchinson was the first
onto the scene with a series
of QL handbooks. The series
contained one title aimed at
Quill owners and one aimed
at Archive owners.

Word Processing with the
Sinclair QL, by Mike O'Reilly,
is competently written, al-
though it is long-winded and says
little. It shows how to power up
the QL, how to load in Quill and
how each of the commands work .
It even goes as far as to show how a

-J~

i|. = Books

IF' 1 -

letter can be written and reports draf-
ted- Unfortunately it does not go
much further.

Database Management on the
Sinclair QL, also by Mike O'Reilly
and also from Hutchinson, is much
the same as the introduction to Quill.
It does little better than the official
Sinclair manual, a damning fault, as
that manual leaves a lot to be desired.

The Hutchinson books are not the
best on the Psion packages, and it is
left to the series of Psion books from
Century Communications to fit neatly
into that niche. There are four books;
one for each of the packages. The
book on QuiU, written by Clare Spot-
tiswoodj marked the series as a win-
ner. Even Sir Clive Sinclair stuck his
oar in and said that it was one of the
most fab things he had ever seen. The
simple style, combined with diagrams,
cartoons and many useful examples,
makes the book a joy to read.

Other titles in the series are similar
in style but have different authors. QL
Archive, by Ian Murray, provides the
easiest and most interesting explana-
tion of the database package ever
committed to print. It is a delight to
read, and the examples provided can
be practically useful. Although it ar-
rived late on the scene it should be
very successful.

Sunshine also provided a book on
the Psion packages, although ii com-
bined all four and was different in
approach from the titles from Hutch-
inson and Century. Quill, Easel, Arc-
hive and Abacus on the Sinclair QL,
by Alison MeCallum-Varey, may be a
bit of a mouthful, but it achieves its
aim easily and concisely. The book
shows how the four packages can be
used together in a business environ-
ment. It also shows how to import and
export information from them and
which of the programs are compatible
for each operation.

It was the first book to include
comprehensive examples which were
worth entering into the Psion pack-
ages and which stretched them to their
limits. It also showed that the author
had an understanding of the QL,
while her colleagues in the computer
publishing industry showed only their
ignorance of the subject.

To be fair, Sinclair Research was to
blame for much of the ignorance
which authors exhibited after the
launch of the QL. Boris Allan is the
classic example of a writer so keen to
get a book out about the new machine
that he forgot the cardinal rule. Wait

until a finished product arrives. His
book, The QL Companion from Pit-
man can still be found on the book-
shelves of WH Smith and Stmts.

Anybody who buys it in the hope of
learning something new about Super-
Basic will be disappointed, It was
written with the aid of a pre-
production manual. That would have
been alright if Sinclair had not decided
to change SuperBasic, The language
has gone through three transforma-
tions so far.

He is not alone, however. Other
authors and publishers have made the
same mistake. One such disaster was
the QL User Guide, written by
Lionel Fleetwood and published by
Sigma Press. The author's object was
to produce a book about SuperBasic
and the Psion bundled packages. He
also took his information from the
manual and most of his examples were
approximately half a page long — or
one page when he was at his most
impressive.

The best was yet to come. Fleet-
wood had obviously intended to write
a section on the 68008 chip and QDOS
but never quite got around to it, His
publisher obviously expected it, as
early copies of the book had a slip of
paper stuck over part of the back
cover. It hid the publisher's blurb
about the 68008 section which was to
have appeared in the book.

Hutchinson also tried its best to go
to the rescue of knowledge-parched
SuperBasic users. The company man-
aged to pruduce a series of five books
in what seems to ba a record time of
two months.

The first in the series was Introduc-
ing the Sinclair QL by
Garry Marshall.
It gave simple
explanations on
how to plug in
and switch on the
machine, followed
by a resume of
SuperBasic and an
equally short section
on the four Psion
packages.

The other five books ]
— mentioned at the
end of this article
ran along similar lines.
The authors wrote]
about the same subjects,'
but in a different style.
Fortunately, Hutchin-
son boosted its reputation!
for QL books by launch-

ing another five books, six months
after the first pan of its series. They
dealt with graphics, machine code,
business uses and database manage-
ment.

Machine Code Programming on
the Sinclair QL, by Martin Gandoff
was the best of the five titles. It
provided one of the most readable
introductions to the art of 16-bit 68000
programming. Unlike many of the
other books which tried to cover the
subject, such as QL Machine Code
from Melbourne House, it deal) speci-
fically with QL hardware and soft-
ware. The most important chapter of
Gan doffs book was the section on
exception processing. It showed how
to invoke QDOS routines and was
followed by an explanation of multi-
tasking which even a newcomer to
machine code programming could
grasp. It is one of the most outstand-
ing books of 1985,

Using Graphics on die Sinclair
QL, by prolific and blunt-styled Gam 1
Marshal], provided another exception-
al contribution to the QL book scene.
The text deals only with SuperBasic
graphics commands but it does ex-
plain the different types of screen
co-ordinates, windows and scaling
windows. The examples provided are
still worth running and provide some
of the simplest but most effective
graphics displays you can obtain on
the QL.

The other three titles tied the series
of ten books together. Profiling from
the Sinclair QL, by Barry Miles,
showed how to use Abacus and
Continue d on piigt

CAMBRIDGE

Illustrating
Super-Basic on the
Sinclair QL

bv DONALD ALCOCK. . .

. . . introduces you to
Super- lki>i( "ri litis
popular machine.
PackeH with examples
and in the same unique
Byte as the author's
previous bociks, u
explains and illustrates
useful programming
techniques* including
graphic :s, state tables,
list processing, sorting
mid recursion- The
ideal companion to the
Sinclair QL, this hook is
both a complete guide
to the facilities available
Mi this machine, and a
dear reference manual
for Super- Basic,
Comb-bound £5.95 net

The ZX Programmer's
Companion

JOHN and CATHERINE GRANT

Complementing the instruction manuals supplied
uiih the ZX81 and the ZX Specirum. this guide
gives advice, supported by many well -written
examples, on how to design and write programs
for ZX machines. The authors have been closely
involved with writing built-in software for the ZX
range, and so arc well- placed to give many useful
am for anyone using ZX machines, ibis book will
be the ideal companion.

Paperback £6.95 net

Cambridge University Press

The Edinburgh Building. Shaftesbury Road, Cambridge CB2 2RL, England
KLAIRUSER Atomol 1986

I OTHLORIE N 1

I O THLORIEN 1

2 PLAYER STRATEGY GAME £$.95

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(Sinclair User 5-Star Review May 1 985)

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COUPON

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Books

Continued from page 94

base Management on the Sinclair QL
— Mike O'Reilly performed the same
service for Archive. Neither of those
two titles expanded much on the
manual but they did manage to score
points on style. The Psion manuals for
both packages were sketchy and unin-
spired .

Finally, Making the Most of the
Sinclair QL, by Dick Meadows, was a
repeat of Introducing the Sinclair QL
with a few more examples.

Unfortunately, the enthusiasm
which publishers had for the QL did
not pay off. Only 50,000 QLs were
sold worldwide during the year of its
launch. As a result, theQL publishing
market is not a happy place at the
moment .

One area which is looking healthy is
that of artificial intelligence. The most
notable contribution for the Spectrum
came from Keith and Steven Brain —
no puns please.

They showed techniques by which
the computer could learn simple
games, understand English sentence
input and construct intelligent replies.
Most of the information described
algorithm methods and not heuristics.
That means the programs which they
developed in the book use a method
which the computer steps through
every time. An heuristic is a method
by which the computer learns from its
mistakes by trial and error, and a little
more about such techniques would
have beeo appreciated.

One book which did deal with
heuristics was The Creative Compu-
ter by Donald Michie and Rory John-
ston. It is a general computer book
which publisher Penguin/ Viking
pointed out was unlike anything
which had ever been printed. That
pronouncement sent reviewers into a
flurry trying to obtain a copy.

The premise of the book is that it is
possible for computers to take in data
and, from thai information, produce
new data. The authors show examples
of intelligent systems, most of which
accept knowledge from professionals
such as doctors or architects. Those
computers can then use that informa-
tion to diagnose a disease or even find
an oil field.

It becomes obvious that all Michie
and Johnston are talking about are
relational databases, commonly called
expert sy stems „

Nobody wrote a book on true artifi-
cial intelligence last year, even though
some auLhors tried to disguise their

books as such. True AI is bound up
with all sorts of philosophical ques-
tions, and consciousness must also be
linked with the subject.

Trends within the computer book
publishing industry are similar to
those within the field of artifical in-
telligence. Few people have said any-
thing worth listening to. The trend in
formula books started in 1984 and
continued into 1985. It is still with us
and, as a result, computer authors
have turned out copies of each other's
books, texts which say the same thing
in a different way.

Unfortunately » for both publishers
and authors the public has caught on.
It is no longer willing to put up with a
standard of publication which is no
better, and sometimes worse, than the

pulp fiction of the 1920s.

If both the computer industry and
book publishing industry are going to
survive then authors had better start
coming up with new ideas, There art-
many fields which have not been
covered this year. They include the
use of computers as control devices,
how to go about connecting your
machine to the outside world using
telephone or radio Jinks, or even the
new graphics science of Fractals.
None of those subjects was covered
last year, but each expands the use of
the Spectrum and QL and the in-
terests of their owners. It is about time
publishers thought less about making
money on formula books, and more
about continuing the interest of those
who use computers.

Century Communications Penguin Viking

The Hacker's Handbook

Hugo Cornwall

£3.95

QL Archive

Ian Murray

£8.95

QL Quill

Clare Spoitiswoud

The Creative Computer

Donald Michie and Rory Johnston

£12.95

Hutchinson Computer
Publications

£8.95

Longman

Introducing the Sinclair QL

Garry Marshall

£7.95

The Hacker's Handbook

Geoff Wheelwright and Ian Scales
£3.95

Introduction to Super Basic on the Sinclair QL

Dick Meadows

£7.95

Sinclair Research

The QL Technical Guide
Tonv Tebby and David Karlin
£14.95

Advanced Programming with (he Sinclair QL
Manin Gantkifl

£7.95

Word Processing with the Sinclair QL

Mike O'Reilly

£7.95

Adder

The Advanced QL User Guide

Adrian Dickens
£9,95

Sunshine

Desk-top Computing with the Sinclair QL

Barry Miles

£7.95

Using Graphics on the Sinclair QL

Garry Marshall

£7.95

The QDOS Companion
Andrew Fennel
£6.95

Machine I , twit Programming tin the Smcljir QL

Martin Gandoff

£7.95

Quill, Lasel, Archive, and Abacus on
the Sinclair QL
Alison MeCallum-Varey
£6.95

Sigma Press

Profiting, from the Sinclair QL

Barrv Mile*

£7.95

Database Management on the Sinclair QL

Mike ORcillv

£7.95

The QL User Guide
Lionel Fleetwood
£7.50

Making the most of the Sinclair QL

Dick Meadows

£7.95

Pitmans

Melbourne House

The QL Companion

Boris Allan

£6.50

QL Machine Language
Don Tomlinson
£7.95

SINCLAIR USER Arnault

cmtmusd from page 34

21*0 J

26(10 DEFirt* FPOCedure Mln.menu
2610 LOCal a

2620 OPEN *3. Bcr_200=*9-(la36xlo
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3010 PAPER #6.7: INK *ffi,Q:AT #6.
option, 20; CLS #6. ft

JO20 PRINT #6i value: ">": PAPER *
6.0: INK ff6.7
303O END DEFln* LTFDATE_FPACTAL_M

3000

3050

3060

3070

ls #a

30fiO END DEFine commftnrt

3090 :

31OO DEFine

,!»*)

3110 RESTORE rto* 20000: READ text

3120 AT K6, ina, 0: CL5 #&. 3s PRINT

#8; t«Kt$;
J130 END ESEFln* prompt
3140 :

3150 DEFine PROC*aure directory
3160 command; prompt i,0:_input
i. 0, 15. 5,dir_*. 0, 5
3170 OPEN #9, scr_200nl 96a36nl8

ECLAIR L'SER Annual 1986

plFlne PROCedure GDimn*nd
OPEH n-B,ai;r_433x26a36x226
BORDER #B, 2, 2: PAPER #S.G:C

PROCedUP* prompt (no

3180 PAPER #9,2:INK #9,OicSIZE

#9 , 1 , O : C LS #9

3190 PRINT 991 * DIRECTORY OF '

: lnput_t

3200 WINDOW #9.193.182,(10,29

3210 PAPER #9,0: INK #9,7:C3I3E

*9,0,0:CLS #9

3220 dih #g, Inputs* J dlr„*= input

32 30 comand:pt-6«tpt 4, 1: PAUSE :C
LOSE *9

3BJ1Q END DEFirt* directory

3H50 J

3260 DEFine FROC*Our*e -input {at

rm» px, py H leni, ilaraultt, num.min)

3270 LOCal lnpf.l.ok

3280 ok-Oj lnput_*-dafaultt

3290 REP«*t I_1oop

330O AT #atrm, pX , py t CLS *atr«i,

ft: PRINT "»tpm;lnput_l

3310 inp*-INKEY*C-l): 1-CQDE< In

P* )

3320

3330

3340

EN ott-1

33 50

3380

PEL*ct ON i
-10
IE LEN(inpyt_t)>-i«in TH

-19ft

IF LIN(lhpur.t)>0 THEN
lnput_t-lnput_*( I TO( LEW { input _•
)-l)>

3370 -85 TO 90,95.97 TO 122
33AO IF num-0 AND l.EK(lnput_
*)<len« THEN 1 nput_*-l nput_t*i n p
*

3390 -ftB TO 57

3400 IF LEN(input_*)<leriB TH

EH input_*-input_*4inp*
3llO END SELtCt

3820 IF ok THEN EXIT I_loop

3^30 END REPeat I_loop
3ail0 END DEFlne .Input
3ft50 :

3460 DEFlne PROCeiupe forma t_dou
i <?«

3470 command: prompt 2.0:_lnput
8. n, 15. 15. formt,(l, 5
3^60 formt-lnput_t: Cymmarfl
3*90 PRINT #6;*' Foritiit 1 ins ";to
pint; * -

P 1 ease wal t '

35 00 AT #B, O. 13* LEH< form*) : FORM
AT #8i form*

3510 AT *6, 0, 12-LENt form*): PftlN
T ff8; ' ' : AT #8. 0. li PRINT #fi s '

'j AT #8.0, (id: CLS #8,4
3520 prompt il , 1 : PAUSE r loco
3530 END DEFine f oi*mat_davlce
35*0 t

3550 DEF.tn* PROCfldure jatjlms
3 560 LO'Cal Kinc H yinc,n

Graphics Toolkit =

3570 xlnc-O:ylnC»0

35 60 FOR n-1 TO nutLMI

3590 Kinc-xlnc+dii»t_»(r )*3iNC#
tisie_e ( n ) )■

36 DO i>inc««/inc*diat_» t n J "COS [ a
ncle_9 ( n > }

36lO END FOR n

3620 len.BBKiSQHTt tclnc" 2*»/Ino "2

)

3630

364 O

3650

3660

3670

3660

3690

3700

3710

3720

37 30
3740

IF yinc*].--!
IF xlnO-Oihopln-PI/2
IF xlnc<0:horla.-PI/2

ELSE

IF xlnc*l--l
IF yinoo: horie-o
IF i/lnc<0: horln-Pl

ELSE
hoi?iz«ATANt3(in c/v Inc)
IF ylnc<D: horlz-hoploPI

END IF
END IF

37 50 END DBF ina (*t_fllBi
3760 I

3770 DEFlna PROCaqur* dp#w(etpiit.

diet, tlttti)

3780 LOCal Ik, ly

3790 ix-cxfdl*t*3in(th»i»l; ly-c

*"-dlat*COS(lh*ta3

3B0O LINE *atrm,cx,cy TO lx.ly

3fllO cx = lx: cy-rly

3820 END DEFlne draw

38 30 :

38ft0 DEFine PPOCedur* f P*Ct*l t ■ t
rm, depth, bx, ay, EX. *y )

38 50
2. y2
3880

3870
3880
3890

3900

LOCal ecal.theta.ri.KJ.vV.it

IF depth -0

LINE #atrm. BH.av TO EX, ay

FETurn
END IF
•cat "SUflTt ( ax -EX )' 2- (ay -ay

)"2l/l«n_Hi

39lo

3920

3930
39*10
3950

39 6

3970

3980
3990

y) I

ilOOO

B- PI

AOiO
UQZO

(1030

ftofto
J1050

IF Wiy
IF EX>.= bx THEK trLeta.PI/2
IF BX<»M THEN theta.-Pl/2
ELSE
JF EK-bx
IF ay>sy : t hetft-0
IF cjy< aiy : t heta- F"I
ELSE
that*-*T*N( (E5(-Bx)X(ey-»

JF ey<B¥ THEN t hat *.. the t

END IF
END IF

thfti-thcti-horlz
J F (Japt h» 1

exut: cy 'sy

..■■:'•.'.• FOR n-1 TO num_Hea;

SQ70 dpaw Btrm. Hi et_a ( n )*»eal

,anil*^lln)*thet*

4&8o IF Itrin-l AHD CCODEjINKE

Y*>-27 OR •*C=>1) THEN MC-llHITU

4090 END FOK n

41QQ ELSE

4l 1 D Kl ^#h: ^1 = 9^

4 120 FOR n-1 TO rium_aei

4 I 3D xJ-itI*scal*dlBt_*(fi)*SlN

( arte 1 e_s (n)*theta)

4140 i'2=i'l*scal*aift_«(nf*COS

( an(le„a( n) * that*)

41 5P fractal *tr»,depth-l. Hli
>'l , yP . yZ

11160 IF Strn-1 AMD (CODEUNKE

Yt}=27 OR ••e-1) THEN b»C-1:RETu
pn

ai?o xl-xz: yi-y2

ALSO EIWD FOR n

4150 END If

42Q0 END DEFine fractal

42 ID :

4 2 20 DEFlnG PSOCedure Jnitjualri

4230 LOCal num. n. ansle. d 1 a t

4 2 40 RESTORE

4250 DTW ator>e_s< 2. 20. 203 . store

_f (a, 20, 20)

IB6P DIM snfil*_a[20K diat_a ( 20 }

. angle_f (20) . diat_f £20)

427o num_aeB> n D: nijm_f r1ti"0: eae-O:

pres_e*8'(l - ppes_f rm-3

4260 m<ade_ = a : ink_-=7 ; paper_-0i 3*_

cOOI*4*50: y _c oord»5° ! fl*pth_-!

H290 flt>ale_"100:«ipDB«0:nialn"O: H

lr_*«'mdvl_* : f ormJ>= 'mdvi_ '

n"30D FOR num-1 TO 10

(1310 FOR n-1 TO nun

JI3J0 READ diat.anale

1330 atope_a ( 1 . nun, n )«di«l : it

set^i i 2 , num. n ) -»n«Je*PI/lS0

43ilO END FOR n

4350 FOB n-1 TO mum

(1360 READ dlJt.intle

1370 Htor*_r( 1 . nun, n ) -dlit : it

or«_f (2,num.n)-anBle*FI/l&0

43flO BtSC*_f<i< num. n )**n« le*F

Iy'lSu

4390 END FOR n

4400 END FOB num

441D FOR num-li TO 20

4 4 20 FOR n--l TO num

J 4 30 Etore_* C 1 , nujn, n )-5: a tor*

f I L > nun , it ) «3
44 4 a 1 r*_a t 2 , n urn , n } - F I / ?■ : at

ore_f {J, num. ft) = F I '2
41150 FN [1 FOB n

4460 END FOR num
4u70 END DEFine inlt_main
4180 :

Uijgo DEFine PRQCedur* C h an «e_s e a
{ nun)

U50O LOCal n
4510 FOR n-1 TO r-,.jni
4520 Oiat_B(n)«»tQre_a(l,num,n

: imle_B( n ) -8tori_i( ? a num. n )
4 5 30 EffD FOR rt
H540 num_BeB-nuni: s* t _alflia
1550 END DEFine chaniB_Mg

4J60 :

0570 PEFine PROCedure chah£i_fm

[ nuffil
4 580 LOCal n
4 590 FOP n«l TO num
4600 al«t_f (n ) -ntore_f( 1 . num. n
) : artttl*_f ( rt )ratope_f (2,nun,ni
afilD END POP. n
4620 num_f rm-nura
(1630 END DEFln* ehanae_frm
HtihQ 1

JI65C DEFine PROCedure dl*p_»*ff (
num)

4660 OPtHIKl. Bcr_220M94s2a8xlos P
A PER 4; IKK DiCSIZE 2,0
U670 AT D, 12: PRINT num:' ' J CLS
#4

46fiD ■chanfie_see nun
4690 Fractal 4 , 1 ♦ &0. 50. ISO. 50
4700 Chanja.Bez prea.seg

4710 END DEFina dlsp_a»i

4720 :

4730 DEFine PROCeduC* di*p_frm (

4740

PAPER

4750

4760

4770

4780

-32

EXIT chooBB
END SELsct
END REP* at ehooi*
e p.anie_Pi*m num: praa_f rm-im

OPEN* I . acr>^.220x?1a24.flKl?0s

4 : I NK1 D : CSIZE 2,

AT 0. 11 j PRINT num; * ';cls

E #7 ■ scale

0790 FOR

4QD0

rtn)>

4610
f(n) I
48?o
K- ay-y

4330 END

CLS #7
chintB_frm
dx-x._c 00 rd

,0.0

—1 TO num
x • d x * d L s t

num

dy"y_eoQPd: SCAL

5140
5150

SlfiO

5170
51 so
n

519D END DEFine chooa*_frB>

&2O0 :

%SXO DEFine FROCaduf* Btor*_**«(

num}

LOCal n

FOR n-1 TO nUBV
*t*r*_a ( l,num»n)-(llat_a(n

ItDPe.a ! 2 , num, n ) -anal e_a t

f (n)*SlS[angle.
y-dy -a 1 at _F ( n ) *cos ( anei •_

fractal 7, 0, dK. d^. x . y : dsc =

4fi40

48.50

4660

4370

4fiB0

4690

a_g«G

4900

4910

4920

4930

4940

FOR n

chona#_f i*im praa_rru
END DEFln* diap_Frra
t
DEFine PROCedure chooae_Bei

LOCal 1

cSi*m*na;pi?oi"pt 9, 0t num-pr*

5220

5230

5240

)

5250

52fiD END FOR n

5-2 TO END DEFine BtorB.ltf

52 60 :

5290 DEFln* PROC*4ur* Btora_frin(

nun)

LOG a 1 n

FOR. n-i TO nun
atora_F{ l,num,n>-aiat_f(n

GEPeat cheoae

L-CODEflNKEV*(-l>>
SELect ON 1
-192
IF num>l THEN nura-num-1
:<lla[i..3ec num
t950 -200

flgfiO IF num<20 THEN num-num*
l:diap_aea num
4970 =32
4960 EXIT cliooaa
4990 END SELect
^000 END REPiat choose
501O chanae_sea nU«;ppea_aei^nu
■
5020 END DEFln* ChQDSB_BBg

503O i

504CI DEFine PROCeduir* ehOO»*_rrni

5050 LOCal i

5D60 command s prompt 9 r ' miffl-pr*

*_evm
5O70

5080
5090
5100

5110
i disp
5120

Bt6r«_f (2 , nun, n > -ancl*_f (

t num

FiEpeat choose
l-CODE< INKEVit-
SEl.*et ON i
-192
IF numJl THEN
.frm num
-200

1) )

nuimnuai'l

5 : ji

1 : dlap.

IF num<20

frm num

THEN num-num- 1

5300

5310

1320

)

5330

rtl

5 34 END FOR n

5350 END DEFln* *t4r*_frai

5360 1

5370 DEFina PROCeaure edit.

)

536.0 LOCal n, 1 , apt , pt , *pt

5390 FOB n-3 TO StOPMN an.BCFiC

LOSE sr,

5don OPENffl, acr_433x200*36»*ia

5410 PAPER 0:INK 7 iCLS; BORDER 2

, 2 : command; prompt 12.0

5420 POINT 60.50= OVER 1

54 30 FOR n-1 TO num

5440 LINE TO P9inta( 1, n ). point

B(J,n)

545a END FOR n

5460 pt-O

5470 REPeat n_lqop

5fl80 PEP**t loop

5490 CtJRSOB pointat 1 , pt> ,poin

taC2.pt) . -3. -fi: PRlNT-o"

5 500 l-CODE( tMKEV#(-l ) J

5510 SELect ON 1

5520 -192

5530 CURSOR KiJntBd.pt i.pc

lntsi2.pt>, -3, -6: FRINT"o"i IF pt>

0; pt-pt - 1

5540 =200

55 50 CURSOR palntlll.C'lKpa
lnti(8,pt), -3. -6; PRIHT H o"i IF pt<
num:[*t»pt-l

SINCLAIR USER Annual i

J57Q EXIT loop

55SO -27

5530 EXIT m_lQop

560O -REMAINDER

5610 CURSOR points* 1, ft >, po

lnts(£. pt ) , -3,

5620 END SELect

1630 3TND KEPeat loop

5640 CURSOR point ■ C 1 . Pt >, pal nt

ul2.pt ), -3. -6: PRINT

5$ 50 apt-pt - i : ept -pt * 1

566a IF pc-O THEN Bpt-pt

5670 IF pt-num THEN *pt-pt

56 60 Pt"Svo_pt point* ( l , apt ) , pol

n-EtJ.tpt > , poliiti(l,pt),point»(?

, pt } , pointsll.tpt) . point a ( Z , #pt )

5690 END REF*ftt ra_loop

J700 CURSOR point* ( 1 . Pt ). poin tl

|2,Si ) . -3. -6: PRINT

5710 FOR n-rtUJtj TO O STEP -1

5720 point** 1 * n)-point»( 1 . n ) -P

sintnti, 0)

573D point*{2.n>-pbifit»(Z. n 3 -p

otnta C 2 p >

5740 END FOR n : OVER

5750 END DiFine edlt_

5760 :

5770 Dtrine P ROC* dure e<Jl t_i

578-0 LOCal pel n t b( 2 , num_***3 p x,

¥, n

5790

5800

5810

5020

t{ n ) ■COSCtnile

p.f.Peat ohe«K
KwO: y-

FOR rt-D TO num_e*B
X-x»diat_B(n3*S]:N[anB;l*
■ (n) *PI/Z-horiz J
5330 y-y*dlet

58ao pointiU,nJ.x«69ipcintB(

S. n)-y*50

5350 END FOR n

5G6O *fitt_ num_*#e

5370 FOR n-L TO num_aea

5380 se-point*t 1 .n>-poliit»Cl. n

5390 y=point»(Z.n)-polnti(Z,n

-t)

590c diBt_»(n,-seiRT( x~2*y a>

S910 IF y-l--l

£920 rr x>-0: aht 1*_b Cn 3 -PI/2

59 30 IF x<0:*IKl«^B(n[.-Fr/2

59a0 ELSE

5950 IF K-«-l--l

5960 IF ^>D:aTiila_i(n)»0

5970 IF y<0: ariBl*-" t" 1-PI

5.930 ELSE

5990 arnla_s(n]»ATANU/y)

6000 TF y<0:anil*_l(n!-angl

»„s(n)*PI

BDID ENP IF

6O20 ENP IF

603O 2ND FOR n

6oii0 BBt_dlma: if i«n_*#*>-i: *t

nre_»*a num_seft : EXIT check

6050 command : prompt 15,0! PAUSE

6060 EHD REPeat check

6070 END DEFine edit_l

6DflO I

6090 LffeFine FBOC*<Jure edi L_f

6 1 00 LOCal point* ( 2 . nuni_f rm J , X,

y, n

6110

6120

6130

tn } J

Site

(nM

6150 point»Cl,n)-5«*60i pointa<2

,n3-y*50

6160 END FOR n

• dit_ num_flfi«

FOR n-l TO nuifl^frm

x-pointa ( 1 , n ) -pointaf 1 , n-

FOR n-O TO nuin_fjf«

K-X*dlst_f(n)*SrNf*njile_f

y-y-»diat_f ( ti >*COS( a>Jlj:4.*_f

6170

61 ao

6190
1>

£200

6210

6220
6230

62410
6?5D
4z6o

y-pointa(2, n}-poir.t*C2 P n-

dl*t_ftn3-SQRT<:x"2~y*2 )

IF y * I - - 1
IF x>>0: intlm-rti n ) -ri/S
IF x<0: *rtele_f ( n)--PI/'?

ELSE
IF X>1--1

6270 IF y:>Q! antl*,f( n) -0

6Z0Q IF jy<0l:*r5«le_F<n)«PI

6290 ELSE

6300 angl*

_r (n)-ATAN(x/y)

631P IF y<Onwilo_f [n)»*lllli

_f {n>*PI

£3ZQ END IF

6330 END IF

63*0 END FOR

6350 (tore_frm nym^rr-m

6360 END DEFine *dit_F

6370 :

63$n DEFin* PPOOadure m'ove_pt (

,sv,x,y, EX. my)

6390 LOC*l 1

6(i00 command:

prompt 1 1 ■ a

6ftlQ OVER -1

6iiao LINE ax.

ay TO K,y TO EX.

6ft 30 PtPaat 1

OOP

64.10 l.LNE ax

, ay TO Hi y TO EH

6450 l-CODKUNKEYti -1 > >

6ft60 SELect

ON £

6(170 -208

6U60 LINE

a k , ay TO X . y TO

, *yt v=v*i

61190 -209

6300 LINE

*x, my TO x,y to

, *y : y-y*5

6510 -216

S5J0 LINE

«x , ay TO X. y TO

. ay: y-y-1

6530 -217

6540 LINE

ax, aty TO x, y TO

, eyi y-y-&

6550 -192

6560 LINE

ax.ay TO X.y TO

, ey: x-X-1

6570 -1?3

6530 LINE

■K, bv TO X, y TO

, ey; x-X-5

6590 -200

6600 LINE

ax.*y TO x,y TO

. ay: x ~ x * 1

661P -201

6620 LINE

|X,«V TO X.V TO

, my t x-x* 5

653o -32

66<1D EXIT

loop

fcfefjO -REMAINDER

SfirjD LINE

ax , ay TO M H y TO

.*y

6670 END SELect

66fi0 END REP#*t loop

6690 prompt 12,0

6700 END DEFln* mOW*_pt

6710 I

6720 DEFin* ppoceaura opaw,fr»et

£730 LOC*l n, x. *x, y . my r eec

6710 FOH n-B TO 3:OPEW #n,icrsc

LOSE ttn

b750 IF tnode_-3 THEN MODE 3: ELS

E p u a h jna n u

67fiO OPEN ff3, scr_512x256*OXO: PA

PER *3,7.0.1:CLS #3: CLOSE #3

6770 OPEN *1, ocr_il33xED0*36«>3

67S0 IWK lnk_( PAPER p*per>_:CLS:

BORDER 2- 2 : command: prompt 7.0

6790 SCALE acale_, , : sx-x_coor

a: sy»y_coord : eoc-0

6300 FOR n-l TO nulj_frn

6B10 K-IX*dlft_f(n)*BIN(angle_

r(n) J
•5320
f*n)>
6S30

y- oy *d ia t_t ( m j "COS ( Ini !•_

fractal j , aeptn_, ax, oy, x.

j'ilF aac«l:EXIT rv

SH-k: ay-y
END FOR n
aave_Bcrn:IF MO<3*_-6 THEN

6840

6B50
4S60

MODE £l

6S70 END DEFln* d»w_fr»et«l
6S8O I

6890 DEFlnv FROCcdure aava_aern
6900 LOOal a*
6910 command: prompt ^ . O
6920 al-INKEY*( -1 ) i I F a*--"a*'
6930 command; prompt 3.0:_Input
9. 0, 13, 15. Torn* .a.5:form*-lrput
_*

69ftD BORDER M& , , : PAPER #8.7.
0,1; CLS #6
6950 KBYTES TOftnt. 131072. 3Z7Gfi

END IF

c o mm a n d
END DEFine Bave_a[?i , n

6960
6970

69flQ
6990

7000
a 1 a
7010
7020

DEFine FROCedune aa'j« r fract

LOCal a, b, c

command; prompt 3,0;_lnput
8. 0. 13, 25, r*i*ffl*. 0. 5i fsrm*» lfipui_

70 3O command : prompt 13,0:OPEN_PJ

SINCLAIR USER Anmuil 1986

EW *<}; form*

70(10 FOR a*0 TO 2

7050 FOR 6-0 TO 20

706p FOft c-P to ?o

7070 PRINT #9;stor6,B(a,a,c)

7030 PRINT fl9; atore_f {a. b. cj

7090 END FOB c

7100 END FOP b

7110 END FOR a

7120 CLOSE #9

7130 END DEFlne Bavs_f facials

7lfl0 i

7150 DEFlne PHOCedure load_fract

«1*

7160 LOCal a.b

7170 command: prompt 3,0:_iriptJt

B , 0,13,25. foFint.C, 5: forml"lnffut_

71fl0 command : prompt lll,0:OFEN_I

H H9, form*

7190 FOR a-0 TO 2

7300 FOR b-0 TO 20

7210 FOR c-0 TO 20

7220 INPUT f9:etore.«<a.b.c!

7230 INPUT #9i»ter*_f(i,b,e)

7240 END FOR C

7250 END FOR b

7260 END FOR *

7270 CLOSE #9: dlBf.aet pr#l_f*I

rdiap_frm preB^frm

72S0 END DEFlne lo«d_f ractala

7250 :

7300 DEFlne PROCedure input, < r*

, currant . total >

7310 DIM »n(U_K(2D] . di"t_x(2Q>

7320 OPEN #9. con_200nl96a,36*ilB

7330 PAPER #9.?: INK #9.D;CSIZE

#9.0. 0:CLS ff9

7340 PRINT #9:* NUMERICAL DATA

FOR T t f *
7350 WINDOW #9 , 193. 182 , 40. 29
7 360 PAPER #9.0: INK *9.7:CS1ZI
#9.0. OS CLE #9: PRINT #9;' Point

Distance An*l**
737 c oirun an dip romp t 1 6 . O
73B0 FOR a-1 TO total

7390 AT t(9< m*l, 0; PRINT #9:*t*;
a: ■ >'

7(1 oo AT #9. a* 1. 11: PRINT #9;*7*
: _lnput 9,a,*l, 12, 3, ' ' , 1, 1: AT #9

.•»1 . 11: PRINT HF9:* * :difit_xta)-i

nput_|

7*10 AT #9. a* 1. 25: PRINT a^i" 1 ?"
:_lnput 9,**i. 26. 3. "". l ■ l = A* #9-

a*l,25: PRINT #9 t ' ' J en K le_x< al -1

nput_**pi/iflo

7420 EJiD FOR a

7130 END DEFlne input_

7UH0 ■

7150 DEFlne PROCadure get_flflB_da

74 60 LOCal a

7(t70 REpaat ehacK

7400 lnput_ "SEGMENT "&preB_ae

X , grei.agii num_sea

74 90 FOR a- I TO num_iet

7500 dlit^t[«)-diit_x(i)

7510 »rtKlO_B ( a ) -snila.n ( a )

7520 END FOR a

7530 Bet_dimB:IF len_BBg>»l TH

EN «ter*_t*t pr**_S*B:EXIT check

75>40 command I prompt 15.0

7550 END REP* at Ch*efc

756-0 END DEFin* l«t_ae(_dats

7570 I

7530 DEFin* PPOCedur* gat_frm_da

t»

7590 LOCal a

7&00 input_ "FRAME "aprea.frm.p

Pli^frm. num_frm

761Q FOR a-1 TO num„f™

7620 diBt_f (*>.dlstj((i)

7630 anele_F(a) -*nffl*_H( m )

7640 £N» FOR a

76 50 Btore_frn pr«B_fpw

7660 END DEFlne ■ e t_f rm_d a t a

7667 1

7 663 REnark FRACTALS DATA

766* 1

7670 DATA 10, 90

7630 DATA S0 t 90

7690 DATA 10.45.10.135

7700 DATA 30.90,30,270

7710 DATA 10.^5.20.135.10,(15

7720 DATA 70,60.70.100.70.300

7730 DATA 10.90.10.30.10.150,10,

770 DATA SO, ii 5, 50. 135,50.225. 50

.315

7750 OATA 10.9D.10,0 ( 10,90.10.ia

0. 10. 90

7760 DATA ilD . 5*. 40, 1,26, U0, 198, "0

, 270. 40. 312

7770 DATA 10,45,10,135.10.135,10

. (15. 10. lis, 10, 135

7780 DATA 40, 30, 40, 9Q, (LD. 150, U0,

2 1 , k , 2 7 D , U , 3 30

7790 DATA 10,90,10,0,10,90,20,18

0, 10, 90, 10,0. 10, 90

§3 tts *

A^K^

7800 data 35,12.5.35.64,35,115,5
,35, 167, 35, 2ia, 5, 35. 2 70. 35 , 321 . 5

7810 DATA ID. 90, 10,0, 10. 90, 10. ia

0.10, 130. 10. go. io,o. 10,90

7620 DATA 30,22,30,67.30.112,30,
15 7.30.2 02.30,247, 30,292. 30. 337
7830 DATA 10.90.10.0,10.90,10,18

0, 10 , 90. 10, 180, 10, 90, 10, o, 10 , 90

7Sfto DATA 25.30.25,70,25.110,25,
150, 25, 190, 25. 230.25, 270.25, 310,
25.350

7650 DATA ID . £15, 10 , 135, 10 , 45 . 10 ,

3 is, 10. 4 5.10.135,10. aa 5, lo.i ■' ■

0. 45,10,135

7860 DATA 20,18.20,50,20,90,20,1

26,20, 162. 20, 198, 2D. 23U, 20. 270. ,?

0. 306, 20, 34?

9997 t

999fl REHapK MENU DATA

9999 :

10000 DATA " ALTER $eoMENT >- , 3, "
Numerical da t a". "On-ie p#*n adit"
. "Main menu"

1O01D DATA " ALTER FRAME". 3, "N

umorical ijale", "On-acrMH adit",

"Main in*nu"

10020 DATA " CHANSE SEGMENT", 3."

Segment number" , "Cursor hiys",'^

aln mmnu"

IOO30 DATA *' CHANGE FRAME". 3, "F

r-atrte number" . "Cursor keyt"."Haln

menu"
10040 DATA " DRAW FRACTAL", 9, **C
htnie scale ("SBOtlt.i." |","Ch

*nae depth ("«,dopth_i' , )","Chi

nsn V co_ord ("ftv_coorda" ;. ". "Cha
n»e X eo^orfl ("4x_coopd4") n , "Chi
nee ink ( B a,inH_&" )" , "Chanaja

papai* ("aSaper^H*')", "Change
nod* ( "tmode^l" )", "Draw frac
tftl", "Main menu"

10050 DATA " PERMANENT STORE". 5,
"Load, f ractala" , "Save fr*Ct*lt",
"Format aavic*", "Directory davlc
b", "Main menu"
19997 :

19 99S REMark PROMPT DATA
19999 :

20001 DATA " Uae I CTRL*SHI FT*6 )
and CCTRL*SHIFT*- ) to aalect op

tlon. Press SPACE to oh

Oom . . . . "

20002 DATA " Davie* name 7 "
2 0ODJ DATA " File name f "
S0D0S1 DATA " PRES
S ANY KEY TO RETURN TO THE MENU**

20005 DATA " Press '5' to ■*
ve screen, or ESC to r*t
urn to menu. , , , "

20006 DATA *' Format nam* 9 ■

20007 DATA " Dflwini fra
ctal Pratt ESC t
o abort , , , . "

20008 DATA " value 7*"

20009 DATA " Uaie (CTRL*\) and {
CTRL*]) to vl*w optiona.

Press SPACE to l*l*et , , , , <h
2OOL0 DATA '* Copyrig-

ht Talent Computer Systems 193
5"

20011 DATA " Use ( CTRL*SHIFT*6
5. ECTRL^SHIFT*-), tCTRL*\>, ( CT
RL+] } and ALT to move point.

Praia SPACE to fix. . . . "

20012 DATA ■

Uea (CTRL+\> and ( CTRL* I ) to en*
nia points.

ProHB SPACE to nov* poi
nt or ESC to return to menu. ....

■ I

20013 OATA " SAVING FRACTALS :
"Sformt

20014 DATA " LOADING FRACTALS 1
"Jfornil

20015 DATA " EtiflOft

YOU CANNOT CLOSE A SEGME
NT

PLEASE REDO SEGMENT"

20016 DATA ** T*fpe numei-
ical valu* than press ENTER..."

LOO

SINCLAIR USER Annua!

I
I

iJJM

Mysteries of the
operating system

THE POWER of both the Spectrum and QL is derived from

operating systems which manage memory, handle graphics,

deal with sound and implement Basic.

Marcus Jeffery, machine code programmer and technical author,

explains how QL QDOS works. He shows how you can tap

its resources through utility routines in the ROM

which can be accessed using QDOS Traps.

John Lambert, the Sinclair User hardware correspondent,

completes the overview of operating systems with a look

at rJie important routines within the Spectrum ROM,

giving explanations of how they can be used within your own

Basic and machine code programs.

SINCLAIR USlfR Annual 19M

101

IT WAS DURING early 1984 that the
rumours of Sinclair's super micro
began to take concrete form- When
the Quantum Leap finally appeared
however, it was very different to the
one viewed at the early press launch.

The operating system was com-
pletely different, and the first buyers
were faced with an additional 16K
EPROM stuck onto the back of the
machine, because Sinclair had not
been able to fit SuperBasic onto the
EPROM inside.

Ai though Sinclair was supposed to
have learnt from previous mistakes,
such as those which plagued the Spec-
trum, the QL was a bug- ridden disas-
ter which received extremely bad
press. However, the unexpected
EPROM did finally disappear, and the
QDOS operating system was up-
graded to version 1.02, having dis-
posed of, at least, the more serious
bugs. That was closely followed by the
1.03 version of QDOS, which seems
to have eliminated 'most' of the errors,
and is still around today.

With all those changes, it would
appear to be almost impossible to
write any 68008 software, making use
of the features of the QL. No sooner
had you written it, then the machine
version changed. Indeed, the machine
version was changing so rapidly that
Sinclair included the function VERS,
which would tell you which version
you had. The most recent of those
returns the code JM, although some
lucky people have already mistakenly
received the JS upgrade. Fortunately,
things are not really that bad, thanks
mainly to the QDOS operating sys-
tem. It is that which provides you with
a stable interface to the machine,
whichever version you may be using.

QDOS is very different from the
operating systems found on more tra-
ditional micros such as the Spectrum.
On those smaller machines the operat-
ing system handles all the user input/
output, interpretation of command
hues and Basic programs, and com-
munication with external devices,
such as the cassette, keyboard and
screen and so on.

Figure 1. Main memory map

*FFFFF

tceaea

Expansion I/O
Expansion ROD
(lain RBH area
Screen RflH
Expansion I/O
I/O or ea
Expansion I/O

i-i.i-i .11 Ron

S<jst<»n BOH

Figure 2. RAM memory map

IB*/ HUfll

3V_RESPR
Sl». I HKSf 1
SU_BR9IC
SU_FRFf
$U_ CHE HP

tP(W8l)

«i*n* Frodrun flrro
liftrf'BflSIC ftr-ma

• /Slave BlimU^ Ri ru
to«fl«H HVup Rr-E-a

S«3f-«#*» RRH

QDOS, on the other hand, is mere-
ly a collection of routines which are
available for use if necessary. It is the
SuperBasic interpreter which handles
all the routine matters normally
associated with the operating system.
That is just a job, albeit a rather
special one, running under QDOS. In
fact, when first developed, SuperBasic
was to be in the form of a cartridge

holes' — see figure one.

Figure two shows a more detailed
breakdown of the RAM area. You can
easily check that. For instance, run
the program in figure three. The loop
numbers may not mean much to begin
with, but if you convert them to
hexadecimal, you get $20000 to
S27FFF — the 32K screen. When the
program is running, you will see the
screen fill up with random colours.

If you run that in MODE 4, you
will get a similar pattern to that which
appears when you press the reset
button, but MODE 8 gives a flashing
abomination. If you can be bothered
to wait for that to finish, type in the
command CLS. That will set the TV

QDOS

which would load into ROM. That
would have caused no real problems.
If you wanted to use SuperBasic then
it would obviously take up memory,
and if not, then it could be overwritten
— it was only a QDOS job.

Before looking at the two main
methods of accessing QDOS, a little
background information may be
helpful.

The standard QL has 128K of
RAM, which is located between loca-
tions $20000 — $ stands for hexade-
cimal — and $40000. Below that sits
the ROM containing QDOS and the
SuperBasic interpreter, the plug- in
ROM area and the input/output area,
together with a couple of 'reserved

window paper to red, but you will
notice that some of the set flash bits
can still have an effect.

Although proving that the screen h
indeed where it's supposed to be, that
is not particularly useful. A much
more interesting area of RAM is that
set aside for system variables. Those
are just like the system variables on
the Spectrum, and can provide lots of
useful information. They are situated
in the area of memory beginning at
$28000 — 163840 in "decimal. It is
unlikely that this area will change, but
to be safe, a 68008 TRAP instruction
will return the base address, then the
system variables can be found as
offsets from that. We will see how to

102

SINCLAIR USER Annual 19%

Operating Systems

Figure B.

100

CLS

110

FOR

byte

i - 131072

163635

120

POKE

bytd

RKPIO

25M

130

END

POP

byt*

use traps later, but for the present, try
typing the following:

Print peek_w( 163976 J
which should give you the answer
zero. Now change the value by typing

poke_w 163976, 1
If you now type in the instruction to

reset the value, you should find your- happens to be the ASCII code for the
self working in upper-case: Command Entry key! Hitting other

POKEJW 163976,0 keys, including keys combined with

Other system variables which vou CTRL, SHIFT and ALT, will change

to take your finger off.

Probably one of the most oft-
PEEKed Spectrum system variables is
the one holding *the last key pressed'.
You will be pleased to know that the
QL has a similar location. Try out the
following line:

REPeat loop: PRINT PEEK_W
(163978)

After hitting the ENTER key, the left
hand column of the screen will start
filling with the number ten, which just

may like to try POKE_W with are
163980 — Key repeat delay (default

30).

and

163982 — Key repeat frequency

(default 2).

For example, type

POKE_W 163980,1

icn try to reset that to the default
value. The keys have a tendency to

the code accordingly.

The system variables also show how-
memory is divided. You will have
noticed that the SuperBasic program
arei i — the top of RAM, and so on —
were shown in figure two by their
official mnemonics. That is necessary
due to the dynamic memory allocation
on the QL, meaning that few areas are
permanently fixed. However, you can
Find the values for those mnemonics
by PEEKing the appropriate system
variables. Those are shown in figure
four .

We will now look at the two main
methods in which you can access
QDOS routines. Those are firstly
using standard system traps, and
secondly via a number of system
vectors.

The system TRAPs make use of the
68008 TRAP instruction, which takes
the form

TRAP £n
where 'n' can take any number be-
tween zero and 15, Of those, only
traps zero to four have been previously
defined for access to QDOS, the rest
being available for your own routines.

Of those traps, TRAP £0 is a special
case for entering Supervisor Mode.
The 68008 processor in the QL is able
to operate in two modes — User Mode

repeat themsleves before you are able and Supervisor Mode. When in User

Figure 4.

Mnemonic

Offset

Decimal

Size

SV-CHEAP

504

163844

long

SV_CHPFK

$03

16384E

long

SV_FREE

J0C

163852

long

SV_BAS1C

*lq

1&3856

hag

SV.TRNSP

$.14

163860

long

SVJTRNF!

$18

163864

long

SV_RESPR

SIC

163868

long

SV-RAMT

$20

163S72

long

Description

Base of common heap area

First free spate in common heap

Base of free area

Base of SuperBasic area

Base of transient program area

First fret space in transient program area

Rase of Resident Procedure area

Top of RAM + I

Notes:

Offset — Tha t is Hie hexadecimal offset from the start of the system variables area, usually

$28000.
Decimal — That gives the decimal address, assuming a start address of $28000 (163840

decimal':.
Size — Thai is the me of the variable for peeking. With memory locations that will

always be 'long', so POKE_L should be used,

Mode, which is normally the case, the
machine is somewhat restricted in the
operations it can perform.

Alternatively , in Supervisor Mode,
the alternate A 7 register is used for the
CPU stack pointcrj and it is possible
to change the contents of the upper
byte of the status register, and pri-
vileged instructions, such as RTE —
ReTurn from Exception — are avail-
able. In general, unless you want to
run a trace, which executes a user-
written debugging routine after each
instruction, or use complex inter-
rupts, that particular trap can be
ignored .

Before looking at the other trap
instructions in detail, let us see how
they can be accessed from SuperBasic
or 68008 machine code. QL Super-
Basic is not over endowed with
routines to use 68008 machine code,
but correct use of the RES PR, CALL,
POKE and PEEK instructions is
sufficient for most purposes.

In general, a QDOS trap will expect
to find values in certain registers
informing it as to which routine is
required — register DO — and any
other necessary parameters. Upon re-
turning from the appropriate routine,
some registers may have been set to
various values. The SuperBasic CALL
instruction is an excellent means of
executing a machine code routine. Not
only is the routine CALLed, but up to
13 registers may also be set with
optional parameters, with the form:

CALL location, Dl, D2, DB, D4,
D5, Do, D7, A0, Al, A2, A3, A4, A5
The only registers missing from the
list are DO — which is initially set to
-15 and should be reset to zero before
returning to Basic; A6 — which holds
an important value based on an offset
from the start of the SuperBasic area;
and A7 — which is the user stack
pointer. The machine code routine
will return to SuperBasic with an RTS
instruction.

The CALL instruction is fine for
passing parameters to machine code
routines, but there is no equivalent
facility for returning them. The only
reasonable way of doing that is to
place the appropriate values into a
sequence of spare locations, then
PEEK them from Basic,

We can try that out using a small
program to call trap one, with register
DO set to zero. That trap has the
MT.INF — Manager Trap System
Information — and will return the ID
of the current job and the QDOS
version number.

SINCLAIR USER Annual! 986

103

Figure 5,

10G
110
120
130

mo
150
160

170

ISO

190
soo

210
3S0
230

zao

250

260

270

290 DATA 366??

300 PATA 2D033

3D DATA 16890. 10

320 DATA I66it0. 16362

DATA Jtl6?3

DATA 2008 5

DATA -1

■ H£SFRflOO}

CLS

IB*? h„cOdfc

lotd_(od«
CALL meb.cftdt
orlnT_paBlat«r«

STOP

DKFlna F(iOC*diji*e lo»4_sod»

RESTORE 290

L^cst 1 on-iBAch„fflda

RLPei! loop
HEAD wop

IF word— I THEN EXIT loop
POKE W 1 o t a 1 1 on . word
1 o4*tion»l9(«tln[n-!

END REF*«c loop

PSINT^Code e n t <»r» rw4 . "

END DEfln» lo»a_£oOe

33D
310
350
360
370
380
390

AGO
ftlO
4120
^30
UUQ
lU50
•UfiO
4170
u60

:REMarh TRAP
; REMar-k LEA

i REMerh MOVEM
:HEH»rk HOVEQ
iHEMorH BTS

#1
OC(PC), AO
L D1-D7/A0-

ID.PO

AJ, (A0|

prlnt_pigi*t«!i«

" .

HEM n» FROCeduft
RESTORE 1*7
FOR r»?-0 TO 12

READ Tl: PRINT rtl 1

PHIHT PEEK_H loc»tian->'Ji"lPft*) f TO 2fl ! " ("t

FOR cti-0 TO 3t PRINT CHHK PEEKf ldeitlon*ii*rtci:Ji) > (

PRINT" >"
EHD T&tl r»B
tMD DEFlne prlnt_r«<l«t«r*

DATA

"Di"
"AO"

"D2"
"Af

'I- )

"A2"

FT '■

Dl
"A3

"D5"

"Aft'

■Da" .

■A5 M

'[,-.■■

Just type in, and run, the program probably the most interesting, being
in figure five. Thai has been written as concerned with inputs output, espe-
a general routine which will load and dally to the screen display. Those take

execute a piece of machine code, then
dump the contents of registers Dl to
D7 and AO to A5, the same as the
CAT. L instruction.

In order for that to work, the last in-
structions in the machine code data
should always be:

LEA $0C(PC), AO

MOVEM.L DLD7/A0-A5, (AO)

MOVEQ #0,D0

RTS
The additional instructions in figure
five set register DO to zero, and
execute trap one.

If you look at the registers after-
wards, Dl does not look very impress-
ive, but has actually returned the
current job number. Since the current
job is SuperBasic, job number zero,
that j 5 easily overlooked. More in-
teresting is the ASCII code for register
D2, which should contain a number,
such as '1.0 V. That is the QDOS
version number, referred to in the
introduction. The TRAP # 1 calls art-
known as Manager Traps and are
detailed in figure six.

There are only four subdivisions of
TRAP #2. Those allow you to open
and close a channel, delete a file on a
channel, and format a device, such as
a microdrive, as detailed in figure
seven.

The subdivisions of TRAP #3 are

the form of a host of routines to read
and alter windows, colours, text'

graphic cursor, and so on. Trap #4 is
really for use by the SuperBask inter-
preter, convening future trap para-
meters to relative, rather than abso-
lute, addresses.

Having said all thai, it is the
machine code programmer who is
likely to find the greatest use for those
traps. Useful though many of them
are, using the SuperBasic command is
going to be quicker than loading data,
then using the CALL instruction.

The second method of accessing
QDOS is via the system vectors.
There are a multitude of those, situ-
ated from memory location JCO.

Figure 6. TRAP » I

Mnemonic

Reg. DO

Description

MT.INF

$00

Return system information

MTCJOB

SOL

Create .i Iil-w i;iti j[l ihi: tntWMHi pVOgVWB tMM

MT.JINF

$02

Return information on a given job

MT RJOB

$04

Remove a job from the transient program area

MT.FRJOB

505

Force remove a job from the transient program dial

MT.FREE

$06

Find largest allocatable free space in the transient
program area

MT.TRAPV

$07

Set job exception table vector

MT.SUSJB

$08

Supcnd a job

MT.RELJB

$09

Release a job

MT.ACTIV

$0A

Activate a fob

MT, PRIOR

SOB

Change the priority of a job

MT.ALLOC

soc

Allocate area in heap

MT.LNKFR

SOD

Link a free space back into the heap

MT ALRES

$0E

Allocate resident procedure area RESPR

MT.RERES

$0F

Release the resident procedure area

MT DMODE

|10

Set or read the present display mode

MT.IPCOM

$11

Send a command to the IPC fluid 8049)

MT.BAUD

$12

Set the baud rate

MT.RCLCK

Read the clock

MT.SCLCK

$14

Set the clock

MT.ACLCK

$15

Adjust die clock

MT. ALBAS

$16

Allocate Basic area

MT.REBAS

$17

Release the Basic program area

MT.ALCHP

|18

Allocate common heap area

MT.RECHP

$19

Release the common heap area

MT.LXINT

$1A

Link an external interrupt service routine

MT.RX1NT

(IB

Remove an external interrupt service routine

MT.LPOLL

?ic

Link a polling 50v6Q Hz service routine

MT.RPOLL

SID

Remove a polling 5060 Hit service routine

MT.LSCHD

SIB

Link a scheduler loop task

MT.RSCHD

$1F

Remove a scheduler loop task

MT.LlGD

$20

Link an L'O device driver

MTRIOD

121

Remove an L'O device driver

MT.LDD

$22

Link a direciorv device driver

MT RDD

123

Remove a directory device driver

104

SINCLAIR USER Annual 1 986

Operating Systems -

Machine code programmers will rind a
number of ihosc vectors useful. Un-
fortunately, the most generally useful
vectors, concerning ASCII to binary
and hexadecimal conversion, will not
be functioning until version 1.04 —
according to Sinclair's manual!

That still leaves one of the most
useful features available on the QL —
the ability to extend SuperBasic. The
vector BP.INIT (at $1 10) can be used
to add a list of procedures and func-
tions to the SuperBasic name table.
From then on, those routines can be
used in SuperBasic in the same way as
the routines built into the SuperBasic
ROM

For example, suppose you wanted
to turn the example in figure five into
a SuperBasic function. You would
first need a table of the follow iog
form:

DC.W
DC,W Q

: There are no procedures

: Zero marks end of

procedures

DC.W 1

: Wc arc defining one function

DC.W ptr

: Relative pointer to function

DC.B 6

: Length of function name

DC.fl 'VERNOS' : Name of Function

DC/W

: End of function definitions

Having defined your table, a simple
piece of code to point to the table
(register Al), then a jump via the
BP.INIT vector, will do the rest of the
work. That looks something like;

LEA TABLE (PC),A1

MOVE- W $110,A2

JSR (AZ)

RTS

Figure 8. TRAP #3
Mnemonic Reg.

DO Description

10. PEN n

$00

Check for pending input on channel

N.FBYTE

501

Fetch a byte from channel

[O.FLINE

$01

Fetch line of characters (end - $0A>

I0.FSTRG

$03

Fetch, a string of bytes

I0.EDL1N

$04

Edit a line of characters

I0.SBYTE

SOS

Send a byte to channel

10,SSTRG

$07

Send a string of bytes

SD.EXTOP

$09

Call an external operation

SD-PXENQ

Return window size/cursor position (pixel coordi)

SD.CHENQ

$0B

Return window size/cursor position (char, coords)

SD.BORDR

$OC

Set window border width add colour

SDWDEF

SOD

Redefine window

SD.CURE

SOE

Enabk cursor

SD.CURS

$0F

Disable cursor

SD.POS

$10

Set text cursor

SD.TAB

$11

Set text cursor horizontal position

SD.NL

$12

Newliric

5D.PCOL

$13

Set cursor to previous column

SD.NCOL

$14

Set cursor to next column

SD.PROW

Set cursor to previous row

S D.N ROW

$16

Set cursor to next row

SD.PIXF

$17

Set cursor position to pixel coordinates

SD.SCROL

$18

Scroll entire window

SD.SCRTP

$19

Scroll top of window

SD.5CRBT

$1A

Scroll bottom of window

SD.PAN

SIB

Pan entire window

SD.PANLN

S1E

Pan cursor line in window

SD-PANRT

S1F

Pan righthand side of cursor line

SD.CLEAR

$20

Clear all of window

SD.CLRTP

$21

Clear window above cursor

SDCLRBT

$22

Clear window below cursor

SD.CLRLN

$23

Clear cursor line in window

SDCLRRT

$24

Gear window to right of cursor

SD. FOUNT

$25

Set or reset the character font

SD.RECOL

$26

Rccolour window

SD.SETPA

$27

Set paper colour

SD.SETST

$28

Set strip colour

SD.5LTIN

$29

Set ink colour

SD.5ETFL

$2A

Set flach mode

SD.SETUL

$2B

Set underline mode

SD.SETMD

S2C

Set write mode (XOR, strip, transparent, ink)

SDSETSZ

$2D

Set character height, width and spacing

SD.FILL

$2E

Fill rectangle in window

SD. POINT

$J0

Plot point

SDXINE

$31

Draw line

SD.ARC

$32

Draw arc

SD.ELIPS

S3 1

Draw ellipse/circle

SD.SCALE

$34

Set window scale

SD. FLOOD

S35

Set or reset fill mode

SD.GCURS

$56

Position the graphics cursor

FS .CHECK

$40

Check all pending operations on a file

FS. FLUSH

$41

Flush buffers for a file

FSPOSAB

$42

Position file pointer absolute

FS.POSRE

$43

Position file pointer relative

FSMDINF

S4<

Get informal inn about medium

FS .HEADS

$46

Set file header

FSHEADR

$47

Read file header

FS.LOAD

$48

Load file into memory

FS.SAVE

$49

Save a file from memory

Figure 7. TRAP

Mnemonic Reg,

Description

10. OPEN $01

Open a channel

IG.CLOSE $02

Close a channel

K).FORMT$03

Format a sectored
medium

10.DELET $04

Delete a file from a

channel

You can try that out by entering the
program in figure nine, which will
save a machine code file to 'mdvl-
verno'.

At any future date simply type the
following:

cd = RESPR(IOO)

LBYTES mdvl_verno,cd

CALL cd

Then typing

PRINT verno$,

a$ = vemo$
or whatever, will return the required
result.

Figure 9,

lOQ

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zoafls. -1

SINCLAIR USER Annual 1986

IDS

What's the best thing
next to your Spectrum?

The Uffi Disk Interface ?

PROBABLY I No rieed far expert f Ve 3" or 3.5" Disks, just plug In any 5.25* 1 standard (e.g. 8BC compatible)
disk drive. Complete with a Par a I lei Printer connector, a Tap* to Disk Cop 1st, an Onboard Screan Durrp,
and Micro-Drive Compatibility. Add to this a FREE Utilities Disk with a Built-in Wor d Processor , a
Database, Help Files, and Network Controller, and It must be a BARGAIN at only £89.99

The ytff Keyboard ?

PR0BA8LY1 A professional, State of the Art Keyboard, featuring 66 keys. Including full size space bar,
dedicated Numeric pad, Cursor pad, 4 r >,,,/,~, and ENTER, all full -travel sculptured keys. Complete with
full fitting Instructions (English not Yap I knees), Graphics Shift Key, Individual Extended Mode key,
separate Caps Lock key, It should be the most expensive on the market. In fact Its only £49.99

UW3T add-ons, the best thing next to your Spectrum

AN prices Include VAT and Carriage

LMT Computers Ltd

Unit 1 South Street Commercial Centre

Visitors Welcome

Bishops Stortford

Herts CM23 3AL

Tel: (0279)506801 Ample Parking

Official Local Authority, Public Bodies & PLC orders welcomed Opening Hours Man - Sat 9.30-5.30

CONNECTORS AND CABLES FOR THE QL AND SPECTRUM

FOR SPECTRUM

56-WAY EXTENDER CABLE, 6in LONG APPROX.

(a) For one peripheral (1F1M) £7.75each

(b) For two peripherals (1F2M) .......... £12,50each

56way IDC connector (for ribbon} ... £3.45 each

Wafer drive printer cable RS232, 1.5 metres .. £6.50 each

Waferdrive printer cable Centronics, 1.5 metres £9.50 each

Spectrum cassette cable , £1.25 each

INTERFACE '1 ' CABLES

RS232 Printer cable. (1. 5 metres) .,..„. , .£8.50 each

Microdrive extension cable (1 7") £5.00 each

CLASSIFIED PRODUCTS &

SERVICES LIMITED

St Cuthbert House

St Cuthberts Way

Aycliffe Industrial Estate

Newton Aycliffe

Co Durham DL5 6UT

Tel: (0325) 313131

Tlx: 587562 CLPS

QL CABLES

RS232 printer cable (1.5 metres) £8. 00 each

RS232 connector on 2 ft cable .,„...E1 .50 each

QL J oystic connector on 2ft cable £1.80 each

QL Joystic adaptor for Atari type £4,50 each

QL Monitor cable (mono) , £1.50 each

QLtoRGB Monitors By request

We offer a foil cable assembly service. We also stock all types of connectors and cables; send SAE for further lists.
All the above prices include VAT. Please add 50 pence P&P to UK and European addresses. Trade enquiries welcome.

[Oh

SINCLAfR USt-K Annual tm

THETFORD MICROS

SPECIALIST IN SPECTRUM REPAIRS

21 Guildhall Street,

Thetford,

Norfolk,

Tel: (0842) 61645

Service Department

Unit 4, Leyiand Close,

Thetford, Norfolk,

Tel: (0842) 65897

Why wait weeks to get your Spectrum repaired

We at Thetford Micros (Service Dept) have just put into operation a new fully equipped workshop to allow us to keep
ud our 24 Hours "Guaranteed" repair service on your Sinclair Spectrum computers We have fully trained staff and
our workmanship and repair work is fully warranteed to give your the confidence that you micro is m the safest
hands Any first time repairs will be £16,00 + VAT + £2.00 postage and package = total £20.40 for any repair on
your computer We also specialise in the repair of the Spectrum microdrive. Interface I, il and ZX printers at the
same standard charge Payment maybe made by cheque, Barclaycard, Access, American Express, or Postal
Order So all you have to do is post your faulty Spectrum to us along with payment and we will do the rest, your
repaired Spectrum will be back in the post within 24 hours (we never sleep!) and depending on the post office it will
be back with you within 5-6 days. We have already undertaken repairs from all over England and the continent.

We aiso undertake repair work on Acorn, Commodore, Amstrad, Texas, Dragon etc., at the lowest of prices.
Any problems with your micro phone Pete on the above telephone numbers — I'll be only too pleased to assist.

£35.00+ VAT & P&P for all QL computer faults. £39.00+ VAT & P&P with microdrive fault.

We also produce our own Spectrum "4BK Upgrade Kits" complete with fitting instructions. £24.00 (VAT+P&P) inclusive.

Switchable UHF — composite video can be Med to your Spectrum tor only £14.00+ VAT+£2.00 P&P

Trade enquiries welcome

Written any good pr<

lately?

• It

rams

Mieronet 800 are currently looking for good quality Spectrum programs to
load onto our mainframes and offer direct to our thousands of members.

If you're .a talented programmer, you'll earn a substantial fee, or top royalties, as
well as seeing your 'name in lights' across the Mieronet database!

We'll distribute your programs as 'telesoftware' - stored on our mainframes
and delivered via the phone lines to Mieronet subscribers nationwide.
It's revolutionary, and it's the future of software distribution.

Just send us your cassette, with your name, address, phone number, and a brief
description of the program, and 'mainframe and fortune' could be yours!

Contact:

Phil Godsell,
Software Manager
Mieronet 800
8 Herbal Hill,
London EC1R5EJ.

SINCLAIR USER Anttunl 1986

10?

TO MANY PEOPLE the Spectrum is
typified by a flashing K in the corner
of the screen. Few stop to think how
the K go there in the first place.

The Spectrum ROM is a complex
16K machine code program which
handles all the difficult tasks which go
to make up a computer.

Luckily, you do not have to under-
stand what is under the bonnet to be
able to use the Spectrum, but once
you start delving into machine code,
you will find that the ROM contains
many useful routines which you can
use in your own programs.

OPEN.

00O24 0018 GET CHAR

Collect a printable character into A.

00032 0020 NEXT-CHAR

The A register is loaded with the next

character to be interpreted.

00040 0028 FP-CALC

Used by the Floating Point Calculator

as an indirect jump to 335Bh. The

RST 28 should be followed by a byte

which represents the operation to be

performed on the calculator stack.

Thai is not as difficult to use as it
appears at first sight. It works in a
similar manner to Forth; numbers are

ZXROM

23728/9. Due to a misplaced byte any
hardware which uses it would cause a
system reset.

Reading the keyboard
00654 028E KEY-SCAN
The main keyboard scan routine, A
value, representing one of the 40 keys,
is returned in E> if pressed. D will
hold a value if one of the shift keys is
also pressed. If no keys are pressed
DE will hold FFFFh, If more than
two keys are pressed — or if two keys
are pressed and neither of them is a
shift — the zero flag is reset.

You cannot harm the Spectrum by
using software, so just type RANDO-
MISE USR n — where n is from to
16383, the position of the ROM —
and see what happens.

The explanations below show some
of the ROM routines which you can
use within your Basic and machine
code programs. Each is introduced
with two numbers followed by a
name. The first number is the start
address of the ROM routine written in
decimal and the second is the same
number but converted into hexade-
cimal. The name given by Sinclair
Research to the routine follows.

Many of the routines can be run in a
Basic program by entering RAND
USR followed by an address. Others
can only be used within machine code
programs. Some require that the Z80
registers are set up with particular
values. The information for such set
ups are shown in the explanations.
00000 0000 START
RAND USER provides a good way
to clear the Spectrum memory without
having to pull the plug.

The Spectrum makes full use of the
Z80 RST instructions. All of them
are used for functions which need to
be done quickly:
00008 0008 ERROR 1
When an error occurs the Basic inter-
preter goes through this address. Used
with GET-CHAR and NEXT-CHAR
when adding your own Basic com-
mands,

00016 0010 PRINT-A-1
Called with A holding the character to
be printed to the current channel. It
can be used to print control characters
as well as normal ASCII. See CHAN-

put on the stack and the operator
simply takes the top two and performs
the required operation.

In the following example two num-
bers — 2 and 2 — are put on to the
stack, the operator ( + ) is added and
the result — 4 — is put back on the
stack, The last call prints it.

LD BC,2 : put 2 on calculator
stack

CALL 2D2B :

LD BC»2 : put 2 on calculator
stack

CALL 2D2B :

RST 28

DEFB OF ■ code for add

DEFB 38 : code for end
calculation

CALL 2DE3 : print result
The calculator does not perform cal-
culations particularly quickly, by
machine code standards. You could
write your own dedicated routines
which would be much faster, but it is
nevertheless very convenient.
00048 0030 BC-SPACES
This specifically makes room in the
workspace; BC holds the number of
bytes for which to make room. It uses
the more general routine at I69E.

Two interrupt routines were de-
signed for the Spectrum:
00056 0038 MASK-INT
The maskable interrupt routine which
is called every '/soth of a second when
the ULA puts out the picture. The
system variable FRAMES is updated
and the keyboard read.
00102 0066 RESET
The non-maskable interrupt. It was
designed to allow external pieces of
hardware to control the Spectrum by a
jump to the location, pointed to by

Making Beeps

00949 03B5 BEEPER

The main Beep routine. Called with

DE holding frequency * time, in

seconds, and HL the number of T

states per cycle.

01016 03F8 BEEP

This uses the top two numbers on the

calculator stack as parameters. The

top one is the pitch, the second the

duration.

01134 046E SEMI TOM

Table of 12 floating point numbers

representing the 12 semi-tones in an

octave.

ZX81

01194 04AA ZX81
Just to prove its heritage, the Spec-
trum contains a piece of code — 24
bytes — from the ZX8L It is totally
useless as far as the Spectrum is
concerned but you might be able to do
something with it.

The cassette handling routines.
Although some people still have prob-
lems the cassette port is one of the
Spectrum's better features. It can
accept a wide range of speeds — plus
or minus 20 per cent — and volumes.
For interesting border displays try
calling various addresses at around
1280 (decimal).
01218 04C2 SA-BYTES
Used to save both the header and data.

108

SINCLAIR USER Annual I m

A=0 for a header or A = FFh for data.
IX holds the start address and DE the
length. A header is 17 bytes, The first
one holds the type of file, = program,
1= numeric array, 2= character array,
3= code bytes.

The next 10 are the filename and
the next two the length of the data in
the following block. The next four
bytes vary according to the file type.
For programs, 1 and 2 hold the value
of LINE — or 2 holds 80h if LINE is
not used — and 3 and 4 the length of
the program. For arrays, 2 holds the
array name and for code, 1 and 2 hold

Clears all 24 lines of the display,

03583 ODFF

You won't find this in the manual, but

it is a useful call from Basic to scroll

the bottom half of the screen up a line.

0358 0E00 CL-SCROLL

The proper routine which scrolls the

screen B lines.

03652 0E44 CL-LINE

Called with B, holding the number of

lines to be cleared at the bottom of the

screen.

03762 0EB2 COPY

Same as the Basic keyword and copies

the screen to the ZX printer. 0ECD

copies the printer buffer to the

whose number is held in A, the
current one. In other words,
LD A,3
CALL 1601
will direct output via RST 10 to the
printer. A can be in the range FEh to
03h.

The streams are; P — printer; S —
screen (top 22 lines); K — keyboard
(bottom 2 lines); R — reserved (work-
space).

Table 1 shows examples of stream
use. The cursor representation, trans-
lated into a hex number, must be put
into the A register before CHAN-
OPEN at address 1601h is executed.

printer,
03807
Clears
buffer.

OEDF CLEAR-PBF

all 256 bytes of the printer

A ri>h 'If -

- used for prompts and when

the screen is

cleared.

A=FEh "S' -

used far IisLiurs and CLS

A=FFVR'-

prints daia to the workspace -

Can be used

to simulate keyboard entry.

A^h'K 1 —

prints, error messages.

A=01h *K* —

selected by input.

A=02b h S' —

normal screen miiput.

A=03h 'P' —

normal printer output.

Examples of stream us*

Tabic 1.

the start address.

01366 0556 LD-BYTES

Loads, or verities , both headers and

data. A=0 for headers, A=FFh for

data. The carry flag is set for loading

and reset to verify. IX holds the

address it loads to and DE the length.

02348 092C ME-ENTE

Routine used to merge program lines

and variables. The carry flag is set for

variables and reset for Basic lines; the

zero flag is set if it is a replacement

and reset if an addition, HL points to

the start of the new item and DE

where it is to go,

02466 09A2

The cassette error messages.

Screen and printer routines. Bit 1 of
FLAGS determines where it goes,
02548 09F4 PRINT-OUT
Used by RST vector 10H for printing
control codes, printable characters
and tokens, Register A holds the code
on entry. Each type of code has its
own routine which can be called separ-
ately.

03282 0CD2 PO-SCR-3
Middle of the normal scroll routine
but it can usefully be called from Basic
to scroll the display upwards by one
line-

03405 0D4D TEMPS
Copies the permanent colour system
variables to the temporary ones.
03435 0D6B CLS

The main editor routines start at
0F2C. They are used to input to the
lower screen and during INPUT.
04264 10A8 KEY-INPUT
Reads a valid key, taking note of the
mode, from the keyboard into A, If no
key is pressed the carry flag is reset
and the zero flag set,
04317 10DD

A partially useful call — part of a
larger procedure — which toggles
CAPS LOCK on and off.

Initialisation
04535 11B7 NEW
This is used both on power up and
when NEW is entered. The only
difference is that with NEW RAM-
TOP, P-RAMTOP } RASP, PIP, and
UDG are retained.
04756 1294

The pan of the initialisation which
prints the Sinclair copyright message.

The MAIN-EXEC routines starting

at 12 A2. These perform most of the claims memory space from DE to HL
work of the Spectrum, when it is not

05714 1652 ONE-SPACE

Loads BC with 1 .
05717 1655 MAKE-ROOM
BC holds the amount of room needed,
HL the address after where it is
required. A test is made to make sure
there is enough spare space.
06329 18B9

Part of a larger routine which in-
creases HL by 5 and puts the contents
of HL in A.

06510 196E LINE-ADDR
On entry HL holds a Basic line
number. On exit it holds the address
of the line, or the first line after, and
DE holds the address of the previous
line,

06629 19E5 RECLAIM-!
The opposite of MAKE-ROOM. Re-

actually running a program. It, and
other pans of the program, call va-
rious subroutines as required.
05010 1392
fable of error messages .
055S8 15D4 WAIT-KEY
Waits for a valid key press. Calls
KEY-INPUT until the carry flag is
set.

05606 15E6 INPUT- AD
Inputs a character to A from the
current channel. The carry flag is set if
a character is input else the zero flag is
used to signal EOF.
05633 1601 CHAN-OPEN
Does not open a channel, but makes
the channel attached to the stream,

Each Basic Line is interpreted by the
routines which start at 1B17 in the
ROM. Those are preceded by a table
of address offsets for each Basic
keyword.

07290 1C7A EXPT-2NUM
Uses EXFT-1NUM to evaluate two
numbers separated by a comma.
07298 1C82 EXPT-1NUM
Evaluates the number pointed to by
CHADD. During syntax checking it
checks to see if this is a valid number.
When the program is running it puts
the number on the calculator stack.
07308 1C8C EXPT-EXP
As EXPT-1NUM but for strings.
07828 1E94 FIND-INT 1

SINCLAIR USHR Annuel 1986

109

— Operating Systems

Compresses the last value on ihc
calculator stack into register A. It uses
the FP-TO-A routine at 2DD5h and
reports out of range errors.
07833 1E99 FIND-INT2
Compresses the last value on the
calculator stack into BC. It uses the
FP-TO-BC routine at 2DA2h and
reports out of range errors.
07%2 1F1A FRE-MEM
Uses the TEST-ROOM routine at
1F05 to find the amount of free
memorv. This can be called from
Basic bv PRINT 65535 USR 7%2.
OSO20 IF54 BREAK-KEY
General routine to test for the Break
key being pressed. Returns with the
carrv flag reset if Break is pressed .
08252 203C PR-STRING
Prims the string, using RST 10,
pointed to by DE, of length BC,
08859 229B

Mid-procedure call that sets the bor-
der colour to A — into range to 7 —
and updates the system variable
BORDCR.

08874 22AA PIXEL-ADD
Finds the address of a pixel on the
screen. Entered with the co-ordinates
in BC. Exited with the address in HL
and the position of the pixel within the
address in A.

08933 22E5 PLOT-SUB
Plots the point — pixel — pointed to
by BC.

10418 28B2 LOOK-VARS
An important routine which searches
the variables area for the variable
pointed to by CHADD. If this vari-
able exists it returns with the carry
flag set and HL pointing to the first
letter of the variable name in the
variables area. If a match cannot be
found the carry flag is reset.
10929 2AB1 STK-STORE
Puts the values in A, E, D , C and B on
the calculator stack.
10990 2AEEDE, (DE+1)
Loads DE with the contents of DE+ 1
and points HL at DE+2.
11249 2BF1 STK-FETCH
Takes the last five bytes off the
calculator stack and puts them into
B t C,D f E,A-

11400 2C8S ALPHANUM
Sets the carry flag if A holds an
alphanumeric character.
11405 2C8D ALPHA
Sets the carry flag if A holds a letter of
the alphabet — upper or lower case.
11544 2D18 NUMERIC
Resets the carry flag if A holds a
numher,
11560 2D28 STACK-A

Converts the number in A to Floating
Point form and puis it on the calcula-
tor stack.

11563 2D2B STACK-BC

Converts a number in BC to Floating
Point form and puts it on the calcula-
tor stack.

11682 2DA2 FF TO-BC
Compresses the last value on the
calculator stack into BC. If the value is
greater than 65535 it returns with the
carry flag set, if negative the zero flag
is reset.

11733 2DD5 FP TO-A
Compresses the last value on the
calculator stack into A. If the value is
greater than 255 it returns with the
carry flag set, if negative the zero flag
is reset.

U747 2DE3 PRINT-FP

Prints a Floating Point number. You

uan use it with STACK-BC as an easy

way to print the contents of a register.

LD BCmum ; number to be

printed
CALL STACK-BC : put on stack
CALL PRINT-FP : print it

12457 30A9HL=HL*DE

A useful routine which multiplies HL
by DE and puts the result back in HL.
BC and DE are preserved.

HIRE SPECTRUM
SOFTWARE

* OVE R 500 difteren! life available tor hire including ARCA0E. ADVENTURE,
BUSINESS, EDUCATIONAL etc

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P&P and VAT] fof 2 weeks htre.

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* HALF-PRICE OFFER LIFE membership ONLY E3.D0 (normally £6.00}.

* FREE iirst hire tape {For limited period)

* EUROPEAN MEMBERS WELCOME. (Payment in Sterling}

Have you ever been disappointed with soflware you've purchased' Mow you
can hire it first If you like ii, buy it at £1.00 on* our already discounted prices.
It you dort'L send it back and rt will only cost you the hire fee.
NIL is the besl SPECTRUM library, with over 8,000 deputed members, the
largest 'ange of tapes and controlled by our computer wilh 22 mb hard disc.
JOIN TODAt". or if you don' I believe cur claims write cw 'phone 01-661 9240
for a catalogue, and check our competiiacs. We're consent you'll jom NSL

TtONAL SOFTWARE liillARY

42 Harefieta Avenue. Cheam. Surrey SM 2 7NE.

I enclose £3.00 For LIFE MEMBERSHIP Please rush my membership

kit Id me H, within 28 days, I'm not -delighted with your service you'll
net unC my membership fee.

Name .

Address

tht it antral t ickm t»Ua. I inrloit ■ CMCBuC/P.Q.
l.«[*bl. to BUTDW1TB UK Lid. PO BOM 7*. SDUTHBIh, HDNIB. PO* HL.
All f>ri[T*i incUdt VfiT E G*rrm> itlthln U.K. QVWmCM ** I EtTlft

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"*>IL OBOCH PRICE £4

-lO PPHTK- Vol. 1.

-IO PfiCK" VdL 2.
GO rn JH1L" MM

"P^LfS Elf MOTMIHB''
"'EJEU5 E.K nBCHlNfl"
'I'lriAlNl^-tn* anm*

4BK Bptc. ntll! CtG
*bK tiptc. otll] CIO
Gpvct ruiM. rtt II 1 C t

4 flu Epk. ratal] (H

C.B.B. 64 ritpU «15. HfllL. OdUtH DRI

!• r •■ BODhlBt thDnlhl hb« P I MflftJ [ ft **»* <*Q r\

nfllL OHDEH PBI[,T

pj.-» _

_Odd r*Hm_

, °*~ * Cm*

SEND A STAMPED. JE IF aDDRESMCHNVE LWE. FOR FURTHER DETAIL!

110

SINCLAIR US I-R Annuvlim

Reference

.V.

rnfi

THE HARDWARE and software buyers' guides produced by Sinclair

User provide immediate and up to the minute information on the

products which you can buy for your machine, be it a

Spectrum or QL.

The software guide gives star ratings to all the products reviewed in

Sinclair User in the past year. It is combined with a list

of software publishers.

The hardware section contains information on most of the add-ons

available for the Spectrum and QL. A list of component

manufacturers and repair services make the directory one of the most

comprehensive available in any magazine or book.

1996

SINCLAIR USER Annual 1986

111

Hardware and
peripherals

Looking for a printer or a
joystick? Who do you contact?
Below is a list of companys,
their telephone numbers and
the hardware they produce

INTRODUCTION

IT HAS BEEN estimated that in the 12 months from the launch
of the ZX-81 to the launch of the Sp&ctnjm a new Sinclair
related company was formed every 36 home, Since then, over
three years ago, that pace has scarcely diminished This booklet
contains details of about 300 different items of hardware for the
ZX-B1 . Spectrum and QL

Due to considerations of space the details given on each
product are limited, but you should be able to find almost any-
type of add-on you could wish for, We have given the telephone
numbers of all companies so that you can contact them for
further details. The figures in brackets in the comment column
are the issue of Sinclair User in which a review was published.

When buying hardware, always tell the manufacturer exactly
what you want to do with it and whether you wili be using it with
other add-ons. In that way you can avoid disappointments later.
Take note of whether the add-on you want is dead-ended — that
is, whether it does not have the user port carried through for
further add-ons, If that is so you will need to buy a two-way
connector.

There is a limit to how much additional hardware the
computer can support, end usually it is no more than two items.
If you are using a flexible connector that can also affect add-ons
$0 keep it as short as possible, preferably about 2*3ins.

Try not to keep plugging and unplugging add-ons in the user
port, as with the ZX-81 and Spectrum the port soon wears out. It
can be built up again with solder but prevention is better than
cure. The port can become dirty in use which can lead to the
computer crashing at odd moments or behaving erratically.

Lastly; always check that there is a key in the edge connector
of the add-on; if it is missing you could damage the computer,
Most important, NEVER plug, or unplug, anything into the user
port without first turning off the power.

JOYSTICKS All joysticks used on Sinclair machines use the
Atari standard. Some have Autofire and some have two
independent fire buttons.

JOYSTICK INTERFACES All these interfaces accept standard
joysticks. Check that your joystick can make use of any
additional features. If buying a programmable interface try it out
before buying, as some are easier to program than others,

PRINTERS Many of these printers are available from more than
one place Shop around for the cheapest price — the target

prices were taken from current adverts,

PRINTER INTERFACES Check that the interface is the same as
your printer, Centronics or RS232, If RS232 check that you can

get a suitable cable for it,

KEYBOARDS Adding a full-sired keyboard usually means
opening the computer, which wiil invalidate your warranty.

FAST STORAGE Disc systems tend to be more expensive but

you can use the drives on more than one computer and the cost

of storage, in pence per K, is quite low.

GRAPHICS AtDS Where possible try before you buy

SOUND/SPEECH Output through the TV tends to degrade the

picture and will not work on a monitor.

RAM Upgrades for the Spectrum are normally 32 K

MODEMS All but the Protek require a wa*l socket to operate.

MONITORS The Spectrum requires an adaptor to run a monitor
— see ODDS AND ENDS

TAPE DECKS Most domestic mono cassette recorders will
work with the ZX-B1 and Spectrum. These here have alt been
designed specifically to work with computers.

INPUT/OUTPUT A selection of the products that these eon
panies produce,

ODDS AND ENDS From flexible connectors to robots, from
reset switches to CP/M,

112

SINCLAIR USER Annual 1986

Hardware

JOYSTICKS

Product

Contact

Price

Comment

Kempston

Junipr Pro

AGF

Quickshot 1

0234-856633
0243^823337

5 95
7.35

Single fire button

Old favourite. Two f re
buttons. Good value

Cobolt

0751-73315

8-95

Has no base end takes
getting used to Good
for track- type games

Consumer
Electronic

Slik Stick

Vulcan
Gunshot

Dean
Supferchamp

Nidd Valley
Flightlink

RAM

Quickshoi II

St o nee hip
Superstick

061-682-2339 8.95

01-203-6366
Q344-885661

0423-864488
02514-5858

8.95

9.35

9.95

995

Stick is small and rather
stiff

Hard wearing and
imprecise. (May'85)

Cable winds into base.
Stick rather loose.
{Oct'84)

Two independent fire
buttons

Old favourite. Stick
loosens with use.
Autofire

0252-333361 9.95

Voltmace
35

Fral

Flightlink

Consumer
Electronic
Starfighter

Eidersoft
QL Joystick

Kempston
Formula 2

CGL
Champion

Kempston
Pro 3000

Cook ridge

Zipstick

DK'tronics
Quickshot II

Kempston
Pro 5000

Fral
Quickshot 11+2

CGL
Boss

Kempston
Formula I

Consumer
Electronic
Joysensor

Cookridge

Sureshot

Supreme

CGL

Bat Handle

Cheetah
RAT

CGL

Super Three

Way

10.00

0584-4894 10.50

061-682-2339 10.95

01 478-1291

0234-856633

01 -508-5600

0234-856633

0532-670625

0799-26350

0234-856633

0584-4894

01-508-5600
0234-856633

11.95
11.95
11.95
12.75
12.95
12.95
13,50
13.95

15 99

16,95

061-682-2339 19.95

0532-670625 19.95

01-508-5600

01 -833-4909

01-508-5600

27.99
29.95
29.99

Two independent fire
buttons. Well made.
Good value, j Oct'84)

Two independent fire
buttons. Very precise
but fire buttons small
Short but quite good

Standard Quickshot II
with QL plug. (May'85)

Three fire buttons Long
travel stick. {June'85}

Two fire buttons.
Autofire

Two fire buttons. Leaf
switches

Two fire buttons,
suckers on base

sea RAM

Ball on joystick and two
large fire buttons

Standard Quickshoi
with two independent
fire buttons. (Oct'84)

Popular American stick.
Heavy duty

Micro switches,
Hecorm mended
(June'BSI

Uses membrane touch
pad. Difficult to get
used to

Fitted with QL plug
Good action.
Recommended

Two fire buttons and
leaf switches

Infra-red remote control
with interface (Nov'B4)

Two fire buttons and
leaf switches.
Interchangeable sticks

Kfl

SINCLAIR USER Annual 1986

JOYSTICK INTERFACES

Product
CLPS

Miracle
Systems

Bud

Pilot

DK'tronics

Kempston

AGF
Protocol 1

AGF

Protocol 2

Cheetah

Spectrum

Interface

Bud

interstate 31

DK'tronics
Games Player

DK'tronics
Dual Part

Smciair
Interface 2

Datel

Games Ace

Kempston
Pro

Contact
0930-52204

0273-603871
K210

0670-85^616

0799-26350

0234-856633

0243-823337

Price
4.95

499

9.95

10.95

0234-823337 1095
01-833-4909 11.50

0670-856616 11.95

0799-26350

0276-6531 1

0782-273815

0234-856633

12.95
13.00
14.95
17.95

18.95

Comment

QL adaptor for standard
joystick. (May'85)

QL adaptor for standard
joystick

Kempston compatible.
Power -on LED.

(June'SS)

Kempston compatible
Kempston compatible
Cursor, Reset switch

Kempston compatible.
Reset switch

Dead ended. (£12.75
with extender).
Kempston compatible

Kempston compatible.
Reset, rapid fire

Kempston compatible.
Freeze, slow motion

Sinclair and Kempston
compatible. (Mar'85)

Two sockets and ROM
slot. (Dbc'83)

Kempston compatible.
Auto fire, Beep amp

Kempston, cursor and
Sinclair compatible-
ROM slot. (June'85)

AGF

Protocol 3

0243-823337

19.95

Bud
Interstate Pro

0670-856616

19.95

Fral
Comcon

0584-4894

19.95

Kempston
Score Board

0234-856633

19.95

Nidd Valley

0423-664488

19.95

Datel

Turbo Ace

DK'tronics

RAM

Turbo

0782-273815 22,95

0799-26350
02514-5858

22,95
22.95

Downsway 03727-27222 23.95
Rainbow 0993-5432 24 00

AGF

Protocol 4

0243-823337

24.95

Stonechip

0252-31 B2 60

24.95

Page

0705-407908

26.00

Fox
Programmabli

0493-732420

28.95

PRINTERS

Product

Contact

Price

Dean

Aiph acorn 32

0344-88566 f

54.95

Epson
P40

01-902-8892

109.00

Programmable. Two
independent fire
buttons (Oct 84 1

Large console and
joystick

Programmable. Two
independent fire
buttons

Cursor, Sinclair and
Kempston. Beep amp

Tape programmable

Two sockets. Cursor,
Sinclair and Kempston
compatible with ROM
Slot. Full rear
connector. (Sept '84 1

Programmable

Programmable. Move
stick and push button to
program. (June'84)

Programmable with
reset switch. Also
Kempston compatible
and autofire. (Jan '65)

Programmable

Programmable. Move
stick and push button to
program. Rapidfire.
fSep'84|

Program held rn
battery- backed RAM,
Easy to use. Very good
value. (Feb 1 84)

Comment

Thermal, Direct
replacement for ZX
Printer. {Annua!'85|i

Thermal dot matrix.
RS232. Poor quality

114

SINCLAIR USER Annual 19S&

Seicosha
GP50S

Tandy
CGP1154

Brother
HR5

0442-60155 138-00

092Z-648181 14995

061-330-6631 159.95

Plain paper dot matrix.
Direct replacement for
ZX Printer. (Annual'BS)

Serial, Uses four colour
pens. Slow. (Annual'851

Centronics or RS232.
Thermal dot matrix.
Battery- mains. Best of
the cheap printers

Hardware

Brother
M1009

State torn
Saketa SCP800

Smith -Corona
Fastext 80

Olivetti
JP101

Seikosha

100

Microline

Ji80

Shinwa
CPABO

Smith-Corona
TP1

Brother
EP44

Seikosha
250

Epson
RX80

061-330-6631 199.95

01-661-2266 207 00

01-900-1222 224.25

01-786 6666 22B.00

0442-60155 228.00

0753-72331 229.00

0932-242777 229.00

01-900-1222 235.00

061-330-6531 253.00

0442-60155 270.00

01 -902-8892 286,00

Mannesman 0734-788711 299.00

Tally

MT80

Daisy Step 0932-242777 332.00

2000

Kaga
KPB10

Canon
PW1080A

0442-601 55 366.85

0279-26777 367.00

Dyneer
DW16

Silver Heed
EXPS0O

Brother

HR15

Epson
FX80

0753-72331 37B.00

0734-762273 378.35

061-330-6531 445,00

01-9O2-8892 503-70

Centronics and R5232,
dot matrix. Good
features, slow. Target
price £187.45

Plotter using Tandy

four colour pen system.

Cheap

Poor RX80 imitator.

(March '85)

Ink jet. Quiet but
blurred print.
I Annual '85)

Centronics dot matrix.
Noisy with poor print

Budget printer without
a budget price.
(Annual'85)

Centronics dot matrix.
RX80 imitator

RS232 daisy wheel.
Target price £21 7.35

Thermal portable
typewriter with R5232,
Good print but slow

Centronics dot matrix.
Noisy with poor print

Standard by which
other low cost printers
measure themselves
Target price 12.75.
I Annual '85)

Good looks, few
features. (Annual 85)

Centronics daisywheel-
Good value at target
price of £258.75

Centronics dot matrix.
Many features
including NLQ and 3K
buffer. Target price of
£282.90

Centronics dot matrix
Very fast with many
features, NLQ, 2K buffer
and programmable
characters- Target price
£286.35. (Annual'BS)

Daisywheel, Can accept
Epson and Diablo
codes. (Annual'85)

Daisywheel.
Reasonable speed.
Target price £326 60

RS232 daisywheel
Includes 3K buffer
Target price £40 1 -85

Dot matrix. Many
features,
programmable
characters,
proportional spacing
and 2K buffer. Target
price £36 1.10

PRINTER INTERFACES

Product Contact Price Comment

Date I 0782-273815 29,95 Centronics. Includes

Inter Printer cable Tape software

SINCLAIR USER iKntwal 1986

115

COMPUTER CENTRES LTD

COMPUTERS

Sinclair Spectrum+ ...„. , £89,95

Sinclair QL £195.00

QL Centronics Interface £29.95

SOFTWARE
Full range ol games and educational software.

catalogue available on rgquesl

tor most leading machines

(Please send SAE Normal Postage)

10% Discount r.r.p lor Mail order

KEYBOARDS

Saga I Emp«ror „,„ £49.95

Saga II Profile £49,95

Saga III Elite £79.95

Dktronics £32.95

MICROORIVES

Microdrive Expansion pack £99,95

ZX — Mhcrodriver £49.95

MicrtKtnva Cartridges El. 99

Microdrive Storage Bo* ([holds 201 £5.95

SPECTRUM REPAIRS
£21-00 Including all parte and labour

(fast reliable service)

Mail Order Service
Sinclair Flat Screen TV £97.95

ACCESSORIES

Power Packs „...., ...,.„.„..., £3-95

Sanyo DR101 Data Recorders £34 95

Sanyo DR302Dala Recorders £11.95

Spectrum orvolf Switches £5.95

Dates DR6 £24.95

Dk'tncriiwLighQpen .„ £19.95

Currah Speech , £29.95

CurrahSlol £14.95

Dk 'tronics 3 Channel Sound Synlhesiser .., £29.95

flolronics Carrying Case £34.95

F©rgMS«on3T31 Digital Data Rec £29.95

JOYSTICKS

Quickshot II ES-75

Gunshot II .,„..,..„ C9.95

Arcade (Sleet Shaft) £17.95

Arcade Turbo £22.95

Competition Pro £19.95

Quickshot II wilh Interface £16.95

Price reductions will automatically be

matte On mail order products when they

occur. All popular computers and

peripherals stocked. Please ask for

prices of Products

PRINTERS

Alphaoorn32 E80-&5

Time* Thermal ,.£79 95

Br other EP22 PrmienTypewrrter £159 95

Brother EP44 Pnnter/Typewiter £229 95

Brother HR5 Thermal E119.&5

Brother M1 009 £199 95

Traclor Fried lor Brother Ml 009 £17.50

Mannasmann Tally MTS0+ ,., £242.95'

Canon PW 1 0S0A , £375 95'

*lnc Free Lead

INTERFACES

RAM Turbo .,,,..,,,,. £22.95

Dk Ironies Programmable ....,.,..„., £2295

Dk'ironics Dual Port £13 00

RAM Mkll , £9.95

A.GF Prolocol Programmable £29 95

Com Com E19.9S

DK tronics Centronics Primer Interlace £39 9&

Kempston. Centronics. Printer Interface £39 95

DK'tronies 5&-way e*t cable £9 95

WAFADRIVE

RotronicsWafadrivfl , £123,95

Waradrive Cartridges 16K £3 50

64K £3 65

All prices include VAT, post and packing. Cheques, I PO's made payable to;

NEW HORIZON COMPUTER CENTRES LTD
ACCESS AND BARCLAYCARD BY TELEPHONE WITH PLEASURE

D0MALEX HOUSE, 50-52 GEORGE STREET, WALSALL WS1 1 RS
TELEPHONE 0922 30701 24HRS SERVICE

VtSA

^» ^OW # buy a cartridge tidv

f4^C*^ ^^H^fewand you're a free! member of

Z&S&MBG^^ CARTRIDGE

„,,,,,— CADDY SYSTEM

What Cartridge Caddy

Holds "^ W membership offers you

32 Microdrive ^^B pp^^^

ilSKS.Hod^.^^i^^^^^™ Microdrive cartridges

an < v^ai stacking ^^^ a,™™* at £l 50 delivered to your door

- SpaceSaver ^_5toMT_ _Miqj£rV*f jK^JSpXi^WJt hj n_24 hrsj

Please send me D. Decker (Qty) Cartridge Tidy's, DZX D QL, I Mr/MrVMiss I | I I I I 1 I I I I I I I I I I

I enclose* chaqu* lor E .......^^ In £1 pftp , , , l , . ,

Ma ke c hequ es paya ble 1o: C^^S I — ' — ' — I — I — I — ' — ' — 1 — I — J — I — I — I — I — I — I — I — J — I — I — L — '

68 FOXWOOD CLOSE, FELTHAM, MIDDLESEX TW13 7DL TEL: 01 844 1399

116

SINCLAIR USER Annual I'M

Hardware

Kempston
S

Watford
Mo rex

0234-856633 23.95

Q923-4056S 34.44

Euroeiectromcs 0684-292448
ZXLprint Ml

34.95

Centronics. Includes
cable. Tape software.
Compatible with
commercial software

Centronics and RS232,
Cable £9-00 extra. Tape
software. {Now '83)

Centronics and RS232.
Cable £9 95 extra.
Eprom software.
Uune'SAj

Camel
Print-SP

Tasman

DK tronics
Centronics

Kempston

Camel
PolyPrint

0223-314814 34 94

0532-438301 39-90

0799-26350 39 95

0234-856633 39-95

0223-314814 51.69

0272-603871 29-95

*210

Centronics. Includes
cable Tape software.
(Jan '85 1

Centronics. Includes
cable. Tape software,
Compatible with
commercial software.
Copy to many printers

Centronics. Includes
cable, Tape software
Expensive. Limited
Copy, (Mar'85|

Centronics, includes
cable. Eprom software.
Good features. (Mar'84j

Centronics- Includes
cables. Eprom software
and seven international
character sets in ROM
to screen or printer plus
Tasword 2 setting

RS232 to Centronics
First and least
expensive. Adaptor,
£5.00, for use on
Spectrum. {Aug' 84}

RS232 to Centronics.
9600 and 19200 baud,
Switchabie, lMsy'85}

^P^r^ — —

SINCLAIR USER Amwll9&6

117

Care
Electronics

Technology
Research

CST
Q-Pi

0923-777155 49.95

07S4-63547 48.95

0223-323302 49 99

RS232 to Centronics,
QL. Switch able 75-9600
baud

RS232 to Centronics.
QL. (April'85)

QL Centronics — lets
you use PAR in place of
SER. Good vgiue

SPECTRUM FAST STORAGE

Product

Contact

Price

Comment

Eprom Services 0532-6671 S3

34.95

Uses Ep rams for

Cartridge

storage.

System

Microdrrve-type
commands, Programs
can be made to
auto-run on power up

EMS

0733-75025

65.00

(£199 with drive} old
Primordial Peripherals

stock

St at acorn

01-661-2266

75.00

(£240 with drive). Uses
top SK of memory-

Cheap. fFeb'85)

LMT

01-367-0035

78.95

Includes Centronics

port

Ptotronics

0494-452757

99 95

Includes two tape

Wafadrive

drives, RS232 and
Centronics ports plus
software. Slow but has
edge on microdrive.
(Dec'84)

Servicer*

0594-542021

99.96

Includes RS423 and

Dynamics

RGB. Uses 2.8in disc.

Quick disc

Slow but good

Sinclair

0276-685311

99.95

Includes tape drive.

Research

RS232 and network

Microdrive

plus software. Slow.

(Dec r 84)

Technology

0784-63547

109,25

Very popular, uses little

Research

mem dry. Now with

Beta

proper filing system
and format in ROM.
Recommended,
(Jan'85)

Watford

0923-40588

125.35

Technically very good

SPDOS

system. Includes
software. Good value.
|Jan'85)

Servicon

0594-542021

149.44

(£264.38 with Sin drive).

Dynamics

Expensive

^^H'

i*i

Gordon
Microframe

Timex

Opus
Discovery

0292-280467 149.50

01-340-0310 198.00

0737-65080 19995

Includes motherboard
system. Expensive as
just a disc interface but
good if you want extra
cards

Includes 3in drive,
RS232 port, Poor
manual but good
system. CFVM upgrade.
IApril'85)

Includes 3'/jrn drive,
Centronics and joystick
ports. Uses mic rod rive
commands —
commercial software
on disc.

Recommended.
(May '85)

QL FAST STORAGE

Product Contact Price

Micro 0256-473232 1 13.85
Peripherals

Silicon Express 0533-374917 113.85

Compirtamate 0782-811711 149.00
O-Disk

Medic 0256-460748 249.95

Quest 04215-66488

Cumana 0483-503121 TBA

Technology 0784-63547 TRA

Research

Comment

(£194 with 3V*in drive).
Toolkit on disc. Good
value. (June'85)

(E249 with 80 track,
double sided 5 V^in

drive), includes Toolkit

Made by CST. The first
available, now seems
over priced. Includes
Toolkit. {AprilSSI

Includes drive and
Centronics port

CP/M 6BK system

Based on 0S9
operating system, due
to have a host of extras

Will include Centronics
interface and RAM

KEYBOARDS

Product

Sinclair
Research
Spectrum Plus

kit

Kelwood
K Board

Contact
0276-685311

0709-63242

Price Comment

2000 (£30.00 if fitted by

Sinclair). Has to be a
bargain at the price.
(June'BS)

28.05 Unimpressive,

unprofessional, (Oct J 84)

118

SINCLAIR USER Annual im

POWER

/DATA RECORDER

For your home computer win allow easy loading oi even itw most
Stubborn program. Feaiures include single hey record,

mans/banery, accepts standard compuier leads and S ptn

DiN connector. Also provides exceptional audio quality

to* line listening ... «

(Batteries not included) L&4.??

CHEETAH" SWEET TALKER'

Based on an aNophone system, program any
word o* phrase, providing unlimited speech
Now make your SpeClium talk
Compatible with Interface I CQA Q*\

& II arid Spectrum - . . tt 1 !.*?

MEGASOUND

For 48K Spectrum and ZX Spectrum I
Achieve amazing sound capabilities lhat
your Spectrum has been lacking, Just plugs
into the user port at the rear of your compuier
and amplil»es sound fin Q*\

Through your T.V. . L IU>?J

32K RAMPACK

Upgrade your 1 0K ZX Speclrum

now 1 The Cheetah 32K Rampack
simply plugs into the user pon at the
rear of your compuier and increases
the memory mslantly
10 48K

£39.95

SPECTRUM JOYSTICK INTERFACE

5 imply plugs inio the user porl at (he rear of
the computer and accepts any Alan style joystick
including Quickshoi and Kempston

Comes without rear

edge connector at

or with connector whicn allows oiher
peripherals to be stacked PIO 7R

£11.50

56 WAY EXTENSION
CONNECTOR

Cheetah s 6" long exiensic
enables Speclrum periphe
to be distanced r^ Qe

from your compuier *- / ."O

R.A.T.

Conventional joyslicks
are dead ' The Cheetah
Remote Action
Transmitter is ihe most
sophHSiicaled computer
controller available'
Intra red transmission -
so there are no leads
trailing across the
living room. Touch
control, extremely lasl,
can be used with
Cheetah RAT/
Kempston compatible
software. Complete
with

receiver/
interface.

AEHIAL SPLITTER

Cheetahs neat SpNtter urut
complete wrih sell adhesive pad
allows you to keep your TV and
computer aerial leads plugged in
without disturbing aa qj-

the picture !'■'«

HI-STAK FEET
These instantly applied stick on feet
lor your ZX Bt. Spectrum, New Brain,
V!G. TRS etc. tilt the computer
and make your fceys easier to see
and more enpyabie 10 use,
allowing smooiher OO QQ

programmir^g fc fc»g

EXTRA LONG AERIAL LEAD

Over 15 long Our super lead will allow you to
sil back away Irom your T.V and enable you
to play games in the comfort -.j j--.

of your armchair. *- ' .OU

All Cheetah Peripherals have rear edge connectors'
for compatibility with all Sinclair accessories.

Price* include vat, postage * pacing

Dslkery normally 14 days

Export orders at nQ a-ntra C031

Dearer enquiries welcome

Cheelah. prptlucts available from brine UBS f
'AilLLLIil ;£fr WH SMITH* Rumbelows

wooudomw Spectrumdealers
artd all good computer stores

Marketing M

i' 1 .'' /i -*^i> x Cheetati MARKETING LTD

1 Willowbrook Science Park
Crickhowell Road, St Mellons. Cardiff
Tel: (0222) 777337 Telex: 497455

"a*-

SINCLAIR USER Annual 19&h

119

DK tronics

LMT
LMT6SFX2

Maplin

Kappa
Keyboards

0799-26350 37-50

01-367-0035 39.95

0702-55291 1 44,95

48.00

Hugely popular. Proper
keys, good value.
Printed caps f 6,00
extra. (August '84)

Due soon, Primed caps,
68 keys

Also OlY version. Plugs
into beck of Spectrum,
Old fashioned.
(June 84}

56 keys crammed into
old case, joystick port.
Partes)

Nordic
Executive

051-678-9993
051 -606-0088

49.45

AMS
Lo»Profile

0925-62682

49.95

Saga
Sagal

04862-69527

49.95

Manconnp
M0184

061-224-1888

54.95

Fox

Cheetah 68FX1

0493-732420

5995

Microboard 0483-38006 5SJQ
Lazer62

Stonechip 0252-333361 59.95

Transform

0t-658-635G 69.95

Transform

01 668-6350 7995

Good value. (Feb'85)

Numeric Pad.
Membrane. Large case,
(Aug'84)

Good looks. Lots of
keys but no single
functions. (Oct'84)

Bad feel to keys,
overpriced (Feb '85)

Reasonable but
overtaken by new
version. See LMT
i Dee '841

Lots of keys Jots of
functions. Expensive.

(June '851

(£39.95 without extras).
Beep amp, Load/Save,
No need to open
Spectrum. (Oct'84}

Rolls Royceof
keyboards. Three
colour printed caps,
good feel to keys.
Recommended.
(June'84)

New model with shifted
cursor keys and
restyled case

Product Contact

Pixel Pad 01-994-6477

Format 4 0306-880014

Print V Plotter 01-660-7231
Jotter

Format 4 0306-830014

Datel 0782-273815

Lightwriter

Trojan 0792-205491

DK'tronics 0799-26350

Datapen 0256-770488

RD Digital 07073-31051
Tracer

SMC 01-441-1282
QL Mouse

Saga 04862-22977
Graphics pad

British Micro 0923-48222
Grafpad

Touchmaster 0656744700

Price Comment

4.95 A3 sh eets . ( J u n e J 84 )

5.99 Reusable sheets

9.00 100 A3 sheets

1 695 Ring binder of grids
1695 Cheap light pen

17.25 Good light pen,
{June'84 1

19,95 Light pen, (Sept'84)

29.00 Good Nght pen.
|Nov'B4)

59.50 A4 (A3 £75.50). Coulo
be better. (Feb '85 1

69.95 includes interface and
software with icons

80.44 Needs interface

I £29, 95). Good value

143.75 Reco m men ded , Good

software. (Feb'85|
149.95 Limited (Mar'85)

120

SINCLAIR USER Annual 1986

SI!

Hardware

| SOUND |

Product

Contact

Price

Comment

Compusound
Tele-sound

0527-21429

9,95

Outputs beep Through
TV (Mar'84)

Cheetah
Mega-Sound

01-633-4909

10.95

Outputs beep through

TV. Loud. (April'85)

Stonechip
Echo Amplifier

0252-333361

10.95

Beep amp and
Load/Save switch

Zeal

Sound Booster

0246-208555

14.50

External beep amp with
Load/Save switch

DK'tronics

0799-26350

14.95

Beep amp, Loud

Timedata
ZXM

0268-418121

24.95

Three channel sound
and joystick port,
(Dec'S3)

Bi-Psk
ZonX

0920-3 1B2

25.95

ZX-81 amp needs
adaptor (£6.80) for
Spectrum

William Stuart
Synthesiser

09E -064-235

29.32

(£22.43 kit), Three
channel sound

DK'tronics
3 Channel

0799-26350

29.96

External speaker, poor
software. (Mar'85)

Patron

Trichord

0626-62836

29.95

Three channel and
Beep amp. (Mar'84)

Datet Digital

Sampler

0782-273815

49,95

Many features and
worth twice the price

1 SPEECH 1

Product

Contact

Price

Comment

Cheetah
Sweet Talker

01-833-4909

24,95

Standard allophane.
Good demo software

DK'tronics

Speech

Synthesiser

0799-26350

24.95

Al lop hone system.
Includes text-to-speech
software

Timedata

zxs

026S-418121

24.99

Alio phone system,
Needs external amp.
(Dec J 83}

Currah
^Speech

0799-26350

29.95

Output through TV,
(Dec&3*

DCP
Speech Pack

0442-64225

29.95

Good digitised speech.
Additional ROMs
£12.95

Datel
Vox Box

0782-273815

34,95

Output through TV.
Beep amp and
Kempston joystick port

William Stuart
Chatterbox II

098-064 235

4485

(£37.95 kit). Beep amp,
also ZX-81 version

Orion Data

Micro
Command

0273-672131

49.95

Speech recognition.
Includes microphone
and software. ( June'Q4)

William Stuart
Big Ears

098-064-235

5635

Speech recognition.
Includes microphone
and software. Needs
port.

1 SPECTRUM RAM 1

Product

Contact

Price

Comment

RAM

02514-5858

21.95

Issues 2 and 3

Fox

0493-732420

22.90

Issues 2 and 3

Midwich

0379-4131

24.95

Issues 2 and 3

East London
Robotics

SP48B

0483- 505605

27.00

Issues 2 and 3- Also 80K
version and Forth.
(June'84)

DK'tronics

0799-26350

30.00

Cheetah

01-B33-4909

39.95

External RAM. Uuly'83)

QLRAM

Product

Contact

Price

Comment

Qt4

0372-67282

86.25
132.25

172.50
316.25

64K
126K
256K
512K

Quest

04215-66488

115,00
185.00
349.00
579 00

64K
128K
256K

51 2K Can use as
RAM Disc

Simplex Data

01-575-7531

99.90
198.00
396 00

64K
256K

512K

MODEMS

Product

Contact

Price

Comment

Protek
1200

0506-415353

59 95

Needs interface
(£24.95). Audio. Prestei
and 1200/1200 Will
work on other
computers with
different interface.
(Feb'85)

Prism/Modem

House

VTX5O00

0392-69295

69.95

On offer at £49.95.
Prestei and

user-to-user. Bargain at
price. (Nov '83)

Miracle

Technology

WS2OO0

0473-51785

149.44

All the features you are
ever likely to need but
needs interface
(£45.94). Good value,
(April 1 85)

Compak Data

0792-473

697

160.00

pi
bi

srtheOL, 1200/1200.
?00/75 (Prestei),
i/1200 and 300/300,
rect connect, includes
-inter interface and 2K
jffer

J ■

■

i i

•
*-

■

i
■

• i

" " 1

LAIR USER Annual 1986

121

Hardware

WH Smith 01353-0277 34.95

Can cause problems

MONITORS

CPD8300

when loading tapes

saved on this from
another machine

Product

Contact

Price

Comment

Citadel

01-951-1848

79. 83

12in green screen,

Challenge 0707-44063 69.95

Loads and saves at 4 *

101QL

Cable extra. (May'85)

Research

normal speed. Cannot

Phillips

01-658-6350

86 25

1 2in green screen.
Good picture on QL

Sprint

handle commercial
turboload tapes.

Hantrex

01-77B-1414

99. 95

12in green screen.

(Dec'84)

Boxer

Reasonable. (May'85)

Crtadel

01-951-1848

102.93

1 2in green screen. Poor

MVM12G

picture. (May '851

Taxan

01-653-6350

114.94

12in green screen.
Swivel base with clock
£20.00

aHaM _Jl.r—

OH* ■^M^fiH'

Opus

0737-65080

199.95

14inRGBforQL.

1302-2

Includes cable. (Dec'84)

£&/P

Microvitec.

i 0Z74-33O011

259.00

14in RGB. Spectrum

mm* %

1431 -MZ

interface, (Dec' 84)

^mlfA

1451 -DQ3

295 00

1 4in RGB for QL Swivel

^y^v

tilt stand £22.99,

|Dec'84)

MBS

0442-601 B5

299.00

12inRGBforQL

Vision QL

Overrated. {AprN'85)

Centel

0574-736366

299.00

14in RGB for QL Good
picture

wm.

' " __

— mk

Sanyo

01-658-6350

314.64

14i

n RGB fc

)rQL

1 INPUT/OUTPUT 1

Product Contact Price

Comment

Camel 0223-314814 21.28
I/O Port

Popular, almost the
standard

■

Prommer-8lS 2B.69

Low cost Eprom
programmer for 2K and

Prommer-SP 34.44

4K E proms

Low cost Eprom
programmer for 8K and
l&KEproms.

—

Rom-SP 34.44

|Annual'85)
Eprom holder, up to

—

16K, Autostart,

(May 84)

Bloprom-SP 103.44

Full feature Eprom
programmer

Cramic-SP 103.44

16K battery backed
RAM

—

Datel 0782-273815 29 95

Four output, eight
input, includes cables

Robo Tefc

OCP 0442-G4225 49.95
InterSpec

Four switch inputs r four
relay outputs, eight- bit

port in, eight-bit port
out and eight-bit eight
channel 10ms A to D.

TAPE DECKS

Good value, well made

Product

Contact

Price

Comment

Eprom Services 0532 -667 183 14,95

Plus programs in

Twillstar

01-574-5271

25.95

(June'85!

QLEprom

Eprom available. Good.

MC381Q

Holder

(May'85)

Cobalt

0751-73315

19.95

ROM Board 14.95

Forupto16K, Sits in

Data Reco

rder

ROM space, (Mar'83)

Cheetah

01-833-4909

24.95

Eprom 54.95

Full feature Eprom

Data Reco

rder

Programmer

prog ra m m er . Al so f ul 1

Bin atone

01-903-5211

29.95

(June'85)

range of AD, DA and

Data Reco

rder

I/O cards

122

SINCLAIR USER Annual J9S&

BACK ISSUES

#-in ■ IH4

November IttlW
FKEETOPSOBOCTOF!
Spectrum software classics.
tnSean h < )t Adventum A new series
started bv Richard Price.
Mil [■'![■■! HUtl «u In-depth profile
A special tatter publistiHi] from
SirCltve.

iHS^f^f^

(.FUI*" 1

IXnembei 1984

FREE GIAN T SQE NI I

FICTION POSTKR

Interview with Mathew Smith author of

[ET SET WILLY,

Full Review of Spectrum t Full Colour

Sim I 1 1 1 Simon.

u pages of Software Reviews.

IN SCOTT'S
FOOTSTEPS

&oulh with th. IK

Usui En

W«him
romp«tHkjn

Grand Mivtsr QL

-ihtti *nl*r*

4 nit* <ll»»l) W >

Maak driva
T**ir Ipiclinn

ZX-H1 ii allv» ■«« »*>l

DOWN ON THE
SOFTWARE FARM

fanuary mas

In Scott's Footsteps, South .viNuhoQL,
Menu drive yotirSpeclmrn programs
Mass ttaraga An assess meat of disc
systems for the Spectrum.

H Knkilir \ iking, The Prim b
Tir Na Noq. American Koothall and
many more.

May IHB5

1 9 Interview
I'. ii h YtiurselfMachineCode,
Ki -V lew s of Hertw rts Dummy Run.
( Jverliirds. i ■> ii hi and Formula One
Sim hair Surgery tat Me special Spectrum
problems

air

THE MACHINE
FROM UNCLE

*)• lnl*nrisw
VfCOvt

in*.**^?

Brother

printer*
to fc* won

. ■

Special
•Her on

lOltwlre

# n*w cnriii
{of prlHgrifnrTHif i

INTELLIGENT
ADVENTURING

If /

I llll 11:11 \ IHHo

Exclusive intei * lew with SirClive,
A new series for pn ^grammars cal Led
EnteUJgsM Adventuring Latest news on
QL scene The great wftwarecdiainstDre
massacre.

ran

SAAPHKS
TABLET

August IMS

Guide loComV

Programming
Roland Rat/

Legend mj,' | enclose a cheque/PO
/ tnlhesumof

* Name

Address

/ Please post to: Sinclair User
/ Back Issues Departmeiii
/ Priory Court. 30-32 KmrniKdon
Lane, London EC1R 3AU.

Hardware

Multitron
I/O Port

0527-44785

15-98

Standard t/O port.
(Feb' 34)

Or me
Electronic
Eprom Card

087257-2842

21.25

Toolkit in Eprom.
(Sep'BS)

Indescomp

Domestic

Controller

0462-37171

49.95

Four inputs, four
outputs (via relays)
available through
Spectrum group.
1 July 84)

ODDS AND ENDS

Product

Contact

Price

Comment

Steve Adams
Eve Adaptor

01-254-1869

9.00

Adaptor for ZX-81
add-ons on Spectrum

Adapt

01-504-2840

29.95

Good RGB interface

AGF
ROM Slat

0243-E23337

7.95

For games cartridges,
as Interface 2

B & R Electrical 0279-34561

1045

Mains filter. {Feb J S4}

CLPS

Flexible
Connector

0930-52204

8,50

Also three way £12-50-

(Aug'84)

Microdrive
Lead

8.50

61n. (Dec'84|

RS232 Lead
Spectrum

RS232 Lead QL

10.95
10.00

Cheaper than Sinclair
(Dec'B4J

Monitor Lead
0L

2.50

QL to aerial or phono.
( MayaS)

Com motion 01 -804- 1 378
Be a sty Interface

CST 0223-323302

IEEE-48

49.95
195,50

Drives up to four servos
for robotics

Up to 16 instruments

Camel
Nike

0223-314814

19.95

Battery back-up in case
of power failure.
(Dec'84)

CanscOt
Fstherboard

17 50

Tray for computer, tape
deck etc, (April'84)

Cheetah
B€ way
extender

01 -833-4909

r.9g

Flexible connector

Aerial Splitter

2.25

For TV and computer

15ft aerial lead

1.50

Computer- 01-779-0479 4.99

world

Dixonmyne 0273-201568 105.00

DK'tronics 0799-26350 5,95

Microdrive lead

Currah^Slot 7,95

Rom Cartridge 9.95

Reset switch

Computer Table,

(April'85)
6in

Two way solid extender
Cartridge slot

56 way
extender

Eidersoft
The Switch 2

G Ian mire
Electro nici

GST

68K/OS

Hawnt

I nterga lactic
Robot
Zero 2

Kelan
Prototype Kit

Kelwood
Backpack

Maplin
Easy load

Mega Rule

Miracle
Systems

Midd Valley
Slomo

9, 95 F lexi ble co n n ecto r

01-478-1291 2.49 Reset and on/off switch

01-366-3245 38.50 Real Time Ctock
0954-81991 99.96

021 784-2485
01-359-2 539

0423-883672

0709-63242

0702-552911

01-930-1612

0272-603871
x210

0423-864488

Original QL operating
system. Little support

7,99 Flexible connector

79,95 Kit (£99,95 built)

updated Zeaker turtle

PI Computers

Print V Plotter 01-660-7231

Adventure

Planner

Rainbow

Rexel
Starter Kit

Simplex Data

Expansion

Console

Skywave

Forth

Softeach

TEC

TV Services
XK System

Transform
Microdrive Box

Spectrum
Monitor Lead

RGB Interface

0993-5432
062837222

9,50
27 JQ

9 95

2.99

39,00

4-95
14.95

4,90
2,95

4.50

4,95
11.49

01-575-7531 49,50

0202-302385 67.85

0734-64261
0527-74567
0223-311371

3,95

4.95

20 95

01 -658-6350 5.95

11. bQ

Tree Top
Designs

YF Products

45,00

01-464-4464 47,95
01 979-8753 5.45

With PCB, case, socket
for joystick, (April'84)

Load/Save switch. Beep
amp, mains socket

DIY. Fillers tape signal.
Good value. (Sept'S4)

Magnifying ruler.
(May J 8S)

Two way motherboard
forQL

Reset Switch.

Slows computer. Good.

(Feb'85)

QL Dust cover

10 keyboard overlays
for Spectrum

A must for the serious
adventurer

Reset switch

Tape head cleaner and
flowchart template

QL. Two way
motherboard

Fig Forth in ROM plus

AS232 and Centronics

Keyboard overlay

Reset switch

(£15.00 kit). Upto 4Mb
of paged memory

Smart box for 20
cartridges. (Nov '84)

The only one, (May r 85)

With through port.
Socket to monitor same
as QL for ease of use

Case frvc Load/Save and
reset switches

Reset switch

124

SUNCLArRUSER Ammatli

Buyer's Guide

Choosing a game

or utility? Each

program has a star

rating for value

THH Gilbert Factor has been replaced by a
star rating, the basis of which ii value for
money. Programming, graphics, speed,
presentation and addictive qualities are
taken into account.

Guide to ratings:
* * #* #24 carat. Buy it
+*## Value for money
* * * Nothing special
* w Over-priced
*A rip-off

SPECTRUM 16K

Adventure

Plant! of Death

Artie

Arcade

Arcadia

Arcadian

Black Hole

HLind Alley

Cosmic Guerilla

Crazy Cranes

Crevasse and Hotfoot

Cyber Rats

Dcatii Oust

Earth Defence

Escape

Fire flash

Fruit Machine

Galaxians

Gnashcr

Godzilla and Mdrtijiiv

Ground Attack

Horace and the Spiders

Horace Goes Sluing

Hungry Horace

Invasion Force

Jel Pac

Luna. Crabs

Maze Chase

Melt or Sturm

Meteoroids

Mkro Mouse

Millepede

Mined Out

Mr Wont's Loopy Laundry

Muncher

Orbitei

Pengy

Planetoid*
Proteus
Rider

Road Toad
Sentinel
Sheer Panic

Beau Judy

IKlirt-vi

Quest

Sunshine

Crystal

Voyager

Microsphere

Silversoft

Micromega

Arte

New Generation

Abacus

DK'tronks

Arte

Maslcrlronic

Temptation

SllVL-tM>lt

Sinclair

Artie

Ultimate

Micro niega

Hewson

Quicksilva

DK'tronks

l.othloricn

Add-on

Quicksilva

Artie

Silversoft

Micromania

Sinclair

Abacus

Virgin

DK'tronks

Abacus

Visions

3*
3*
3*
4*
4*
J*
4*
4*
3#
3*
4*

3*
3#
2*
4*
3*
4*
J*
4*
4*
5*
4*
4*
4*
4*
3+

4*
4*
3*
3+
4*
2*
3*
3*
3*
4*
4*
4*

Sir Lancelot
Space Intruders
Space Raiders
Spec, Scramble
Spectipede
Spectral Invaders
Spectral Panic

Melbourne House 4*

Quicksilva 4+

Sinclair 1*

Workforce 4*

Mastertfonk Hi

Hug- Kyle 4*

Hewson 3*

Strike Four
Tank Batik-
Train Game
Winged Wariord

Yomrt

Business

Finance Manager

Survey []

Vu-Calc

Vti-File

Education

Chess Tutor
Estimator Racer
Firework Musk
Integration
Money

Number Painter
Regression

Language

Beia Basic

Practical

Countries of the World
Cycle Planner
Map of the UK

Puzzle

I'lipplt

Hanoi King

Lojix

Nnwolnik Puzzle

Simulation

Air Traffic Controller

Airliner

(..nit

Night Flit e

Print Shop

Pru-GuU

Strategy

Dallas

Dictator

Heathrow

Traditional

Bridge Tutor
Bridge master
Las Vegas
Pool

Rrvrrsi

Utility

Auto Sonici
Basic Utilities
Dielron
Disassembler
Editor Assembler
Extended Basic
FP Compiler

Spectre soft
dk ' Ironies
Microsphere
CDS

Virgin

OCP

Lobe*

Sinclair

Artie-
Psion

Soft Cottage
University
Poppy
Psion
University

Etelaso.fi

Hewson

Medidata

Kuiiij

Sincla.r
Contrast
Virgin
Phipps

Hewson

Protek

Virgin.

Hewson

CCS

Hornby

CCS
DK'tronks

Hewson

CP Software
Serin

Temptation
Bug Byte
Sinclair

Bullrrcrafl

Jaysoft

Custom

DK 'ironies

Picturesque

CP Software

Sohek

Friendly Face

Monitor

Lellcrfont

Allanson

Machine Code Test Tool

OCP

Master Toolkit

OCP

M Coder

PSS

Print Utilities

Sinclair

Slow Loader

II R

Sound l\

DK'tmnic*

Spec. FdJior Assembler

Picturesque

Spec, Monitor

Picturesque

Spectrum Super Toolkit

Nectarine

Supercode

Trace

Teigale

ITS

Timnlilfl

SPECTRUM 48K

2*
4+
5*
3*
4*

5*
3*

4*
4*

4*
4*
4*
4 +
4*
4*
4*

S+

2*
4*

4+
4*
I*
4+

J*
3*

4*
3*
4*

3*
4*

5*
3*
4*

3*
3*
3*
4*
4*
4*
5+

Adventure

Abyss

CCS

Adventure 1

Abersoft

Alchemist

Beau Jotlv

Amulet

Sentient Software

Aiifii-m Quests

Mirrorsufl

Ashkcrnn

Mirronofl

Assignment East Berlin

Sterling Software

Alias Assignment

Vixfja

Black Crystal

Maslervision

Black Planet

Phipps

Bored of the Rings

Delta 4

Caesar's Travels

Miff©#*oft

Castle Blacfcslar

CDS

Classic Adventure

Melbourne House

CokUtx

Phipps

Colossal Caves

CP Software

Confidential

Radar Games

Crystal Frog

Sentient Software

Curse of the Seven Face*

Imperial Software

D. Mouse in Black Forest

Creative Sparks

Dead at the Contrail

Art*

Demon 1 or J

MCE

Detective

Arcade

Diamond Quest

CCS

Diamond Trail

Gilaoft

Doomd ark's Reveogc

Beyond

Dun Darach

Gargoyle

S+

Dungeon Master

Crystal Com p.

Dungeons of Doom

Temptation

El Dorado

Atlantis

Emerald Isle

Level Nine

Erik the Viking

Level Nine

Espionage

Modular Resources 2*

Espionage island

Arm

Eureka

Do mark

Everest Ascent

Shepherd

Eye of li.ini

Arte

Fantasia Diamond

Hewson

Flight from die Dark

Hutchinson

The Fourth Protocol

Century Hutchinson 5*

Frankie goes lo Hollywood

Ocean

Frog Face

Positive Image

Ghuulies

IMS Software

Golden Apple

Arte

Gremlin*

Adventure Int

The Great Space Race

Legend

Halls of Things

Crystal Comp.

Hampstead

Melbourne House

Here comes the sun

Alii gala

Heroes of Kan

Interceptor

Hobbfl

Melbourne House

Ice Station Zero

8th Day

Inca Curse

Artie

inferno

Shepherd

Invincible Island

Shepherd

Island

CryitaJ

Jericho Road

Shard*

The Jewel of Power

Stagger Software

Jewels of Babylon

Interceptor

Jungk Adventure

CCS

SINCLAIR USER Annual }986

125

KentilU

Micro mega

Archou

AjiuJ.iMi-rr

Hickstcad

CCS

Key ai Hope

Games Workshop

Arena 3000

Micro deal

High Noon

Work Force

King Arthur's Quest

Hill MacGibbcm

Armageddon

Silver soft

Higfeway Encounter

Vorte*

Knight's Quest

Fhipps

Astronut

Software Projects

Hunchback

Ocean

Leopard Lord

Add-on

Abe Atac

Ultimate

Hunchback II

Ocean

Lords of Midnight

Beyond

Automania

Micro-Gen

Hypers ports

Imagine

Lord* of Tiro*

Level \ int

Avakin

Hewson

Icktc Works

Statesoft

Mad Martha

Mikro-Gen

Base Invaders

Work Force

Invasion Body Snatch.

Crystal

Malice in Wonderland

Sentient Software

Battle Zone

Quicksilva

jack and the Beanstalk

Thor

The Magic Sword

Database Pubs

Bazam

Alan Ftrminger

Jasper

Micromega.

Mountains of Ket

Incentive

Beach Head

US Gold

Jet Set Willy

Software Projects

Murder al Manor

Gcmtimc

Bear Bovver

Artie

Jet Set Willy II

Software Protects

Odyssey of Hope

Martech

Birds and Bees

Bug-Byte

Jump Challenge

Martech

Operation Nightingale

Softly Softly

Black Hawk

Creative Sparks

Killer Knight

Phipps

Oracle's Cave

Doric

Blade Afley

PSS

Knight Lore

Ultimate

Ore Slayer

Gamma Software

Blue Mai.

US Gold

Knockout

Affigala

Paradox

Runesoft

Blue Thunder

Foundry Systems

Kokuloni Wilf

Elite

Perseus and Andrornrda

Channels

BMX Trials

Laintan Software

Komplex

Legend

Phineas Frogg

Mirrorsoft

Booty

Firebird

Kiakatoa

Ahbex

PWHHtl

Auionutj

Boulder Dash

Front Runner

Kung-Fu

Bug-Byte

1 +

The Prince

CCS

Brian Bloodaxe

The Edge

Laser Zone

Quicksilva

The Prisoner

Spoof Software

Brian Jack's Challenge

Martech

Laserwarp

Mikro-Gen

Project X

Compass Software

Bristles

Statesoft

Lazy Jones

Terminal Software

Ouesl

Hewson

Bruce Lee

US Gold

Les Flics

PSS

Buck Roger*
Bugaboo

US Gold
Qukksilva

2*
4*

Locomotion
Lode Runner

Maslertronk
Software Pnojeets

Buzz Off

Electric

Loony Zoo

Phjpfht

I ^WW- J „■

Caesar the Cat

Mirrorsoft

Lunar Jetnun

Ultimate

Ls^^bbBV — *-*—^*

Carnival

Eclipse

Magic Roundabout

CRL

i ^^pW— ^^r^- _j-

***^Zr tv-Z^«

Carpet Capers

Terminal

Manic Miner

Bug-Byte

K at "* .^^*"**^

jh — ■■ — ^ v..--^B

Cauldron

Palace

MalriK

Salamander

i Vs^^nt$X^Hnau " — *- *-* " j— — *-<^^^ _ ■ ' —

Caveloo

Ocean

vtazjacs

DK 'ironies

Ul »-_-£■

_^ *~ ^ i- J—* ■

Centipoid Plus 3

Orwin

Metabolis

Gremlin Graphics

— " = — -~_j" ^^i^W

Chaos
Chequered Flag

Games Workshop

Sinclair

4*
5*

Melagalaclic Llamas
Mighty Magus

Salamander
Quicksilva

4*
1*

■■Xw' Jsr

Chinese Juggler
Chocolate Factory

Ocean

HiU MacGibbon

3*
3*

Minder

Mission Impossible

DK'tronics
Silvcrsoft

Quelzalcoall

Virgin

Chuckie Egg

A4F

Mission Omega

Pulanauc

Red Moon

Level 9

Chuckle Egg 11

A4F

Monkey Biznes

Artie

Return of the Joystick

Delta 4

Cbuckman

CCL' Add-on

Mood Cresta

Incentive

Return to Eden

Level Nine

Close -In

Fulsome

Moons Of Tanlalos

CcAhiU

Runcstonr

Games Workshop

Codenajne Mat

Micromega

Monty » lanccenl

Gremlin Graphics

Runes of Zendos

Dorcas Software

Coafuzion

Incentive

Mr Wimpey

Ocean

The Sandman Cumelri

Star Dreams

Corridors of Geuon

New Generation

Mummy Mummy

Lolhlorien

Satan 's Pendulum

Minatron

Crusoe

Automata

Munnery's Mergatroids

Abacus

Scxwp

Sentient Software

Cyclone

Vortex

Vluijim Monty

Artie

Sc-Kaa of Assiah

Mastervisioo

Cylu

Firebird

sfew Cyinn Attack

AAtF

Sherlock

Melbourne House

Daley's Decathlon

Ocean

Siicoline Nightmare

Atlantis

Ship or Doom

Artie

Dangcrmousc in D, Trouble Creative Sparks

Vighl Gunner

Digital Integration

Snow b*ll

Level 9

S+

Death Chess 5000

Artie

S'odes of Vesod

Odin

Spoor

Ruucsofl

Death Star Interceptor

System 3

Sonterr aqueous

Mastertronics

Subsunk

Firebird

De fusion

Incentive

1W4

Visions

Superspy

Shepherd

Dcfusian. Worms

K-Tel

»11TS

EUte

System 15000

Craig Cnmm.

Demon Chase

Mansfield

Olympimania

Autorsala

Temple of Vraa

Incentive

Dcus Eii Machina

Automata

On the Run

Design Design

Terronrjolinos

Melbourne House

Devil Rides In

Mastertronic

Drion

Software Projects

The Final Mission

Incentive

Dimension Destructors

Artie

hmt

Artic

The Helm

Firebird

Dodge City

Phoenix

Pedro

Beau Jolly

The Talisman

Games Workshop

Don't Buy This

Firebird

Penetratoi

Melbourne House

The Wild Bunch

Firebird

Dr I'ranky and the Monster Virgin

Pi-Balled

Aulnmata

Timesearch

Millenium

Dragonfire

ihctt.ihs.in

IH-Eyccl

Automata

TirNa Nog

Gargoyle

Dragon tore

Hewson

Pitfall 11

Activision

Titanic

■Jut

Driller Tanks

Sim lair

Potty Pigeon

Gremlin Graphics

Tower of Despair

Games Workshop

Drive In

Fantasy

Psi-Spy

Postern

Transylvanian Tower

Shepherd

Dynamite Dan

Mirrorsoft

Pssst

Ultimate

Tu in Kingdom Valley

BugByle

Energy 30,000

Elm

Psytrcm

Beyond

Underworld

Orpheus

Erie and the floaters

Sinclair

pyiamarama

Mikro-Gen

Urban Upstart

Sbepberd

Everyone's a Wally

Mikro-Gen

Pyramid

Fantasy

Valhalla
Vampire Village

Legend
Terminal

5#
2*

Exodus
Falcon Patrol II

Firebird

Virgin

3#^

v.... r,-,:-SV^: ; JtMJ|

Velnor's Lair

Quicksilva

Falkland* Crisis

Lainfan Software

Volcanic Dungeon

Maatervisjon

Fantastic Voyage

Quicksilva

w&§S^S*\^bJ ■ "" -

■ ■■:

Warlord

Interceptor

Frankenstein 2000

Icon

■".'

War of the Worlds

CRL

Frank N Stein

PSS

*v ^S^^^^Jj ^^^"^' "

^ i-.

Warder

EMS Software

Fred

Quicksilva

v ^s^jsliiifcv

Width of the World

Mosaic

Froot Loop

NTD Softwarr

Arcade

Abu SimbrL Prut an a lion

Gremlin Graphics

Galaxy Attack
Ghost busters
Gboal Rider

Sunshine
Activision
Positive Image

^L *

A l'Xi*j n Biker

Maslertronic

Giant's Revenge

Gift from the Gods

Thor

2*
3*

A Day in the Life

Micromega

Ocean

Quackshot

Creative Sparks

A View to a Kill

Domark

Githgans Gold

Ocean

Rapscallion

Bug-Byle

Ad Astra

Gargoyle Games

GUas

Quicksilva

Reactor

Gemini

Advcn. of a Si Be maid

Maslertronic

Glug Glug

cm.

Revenge olthe K. Tomatoes VtUo*»

Airwolf

Elite

Go To Hell

666

Ridci

Virgin

Akatraz Harry

Mastertronk

Havoc

Dynavisiun

Kiver Rescue

Creative Sparks

Afien 8

Ultimate

Harry Goes Home

Pulsonic

Robot Riot

Silveraofl

3-*

Android Two

Vortex

Htlk hopper

Firebird

Rocco

Gremlin

Ant Attack

Quicksilva

Helliir*

Melbourne House

Rocky Horror Show

CRL

Arabian Nights

Interceptor

Herbert'* Dummy Run

Mikru-Ge n

Poland's Rat Race

Ocean

126

SINCLAIR USER Annwl 1986

Buyers' G

Liide

■■■■■*

Rommck Revenge

Crystal

Lifeline

William Stuart

Word Wizard

Longman

Sabre Wulf

Ultimate

MastertHlc

Campbell

Worldwise

Conflict & Peace

Sainiaiaom
Sbadowfm

Silversoff
Beyond

3*
5*

Micropcn
Mini Office

Contrast
Database Pubs

Language

Shadowiire Tuner

Beyond

Money Manager

Creative Sparks

Beta. Basic

Betasnft

ShooMiw

Microsphere

Mulli-l-lit

ISP

Forth

Melbourne House

S +

Scuba Dive

Durrell

Omnicak

Microsphere

Forth

Sinclair

Select I

Computer Records

Personal Banking System

Hilton

Hisoft C

Hisofl

Skull

(iiruLs Machine

Personal F inane.

Logo

Sinclair

Sky Ranger

Microsphere

Profile 2

McGraw-Hill

Micro Prolog

Sinclair

Suapplc Hopper

Macmillan

Projector I

McGraw-Hill

Snail Logo

Software Star

Addictive Games

Sales Ledger

Heslacre&l

Spec- Forth

Sorcery

Virgin

SpivL'Tit

McGrawHilJ

ZX Forth

Artie

Space Station Zebra
Spetirozi

Beyond
Virgin

3#
3±

Spreadsheet
Stuck Manager

Micrnl
OCP

4*
4*

Practical

Spellbound

Beyond

Superfile

Transform Ltd

Astrocalc

Splat

InuL:riiLVL

Tasprint

Tasman Software

Astronomer

CF Software

Sports Hero

Melbourne House

Tasword

Tasmau

Car Cure

Sunt run

Spy Hunter

US Gold

Tasword 1]

Tasman

Computer Cookbook

But; Byte

3 +

Spy vs Spy

Beyond

The Li ni trust Program

Michael Slatford

Cricket Averages

Spartan CC

Stagecoach

Creative Sparks

UNISTAT

University Software

Design your Garden

Blandfnrd Press

Slarbike

The Edge

?♦

YaiTrack

Moriey Davies

Diet Master

5 tan on

Melbourne House

Word Processor

Quicksilva

Dietician

Kcysoft

Slop the Express
Strangeloop

Sinclair
Virgin

Education

First Aid

How Long have you gut?

East mead
Eastraead

2*
3*

Submarine Strike

Pulsonic

Angle

Chalksofi

Know Vour Persunahiy

Mirrorsoli

Super Pipeline II

Taaksct

Angle Turner

Arnold Whcatun

Love Oracle

Solar Publishing

Tacbyon Coflamand

Century Son-ware

Antony and Cleopatra

Akadamias

Microfitnesa

Vtf

Taak Trax

Mjsli-rlnmii-

Astro Maths

Scisofi

1 +

Psychedelia

Llama so ft

Tapper

is Gold

Biology

Longman

Spacescan

Macmillan

Technician Ted

Hewson

Blockbuster

Compusound

Star Gazer

CRL

Terrahawks

CRL

Bodyworks

Genesis

Statistics II

Bridge

That's the Spirit

The Edge

Castle

L'Eosoulciado

The Guide lu Medicine

kastiiu ,id

The Covenant

PSS

Castle of Dreams

WldglT

Vega-Table

Vega

The Guardian

PSS

Castle Spellcrous

Sinclair

Puzzle

The Pyramid

Fantasy

Chess Tutor 1

Sinclair

The Snowman

Quicksilva

Clown

Englcficld Software 2*

Arcturus

Visions

Tirrbo

Arcade Software

Cortes

L'Ensouleiado

Flii

Softricki

3D Bat Attack

Chcctahsoft

Dinosaurs

Piper

H a. reraise r

Hare soft

3D Lunattaci

Elewson

Disease Dodgers

Sinclair Research

Mazecube

PAL

3D Seiddab Attack

Hewson

Dyslexia Beater

Duoitz

Stuart Henry's Pop Quiz

Bellfluwer

3D Star&lrik*

Realtime software

Eiffel Tower

Chalkwft

3D Strategy

Quicksiton

3D Tank Duel
3D Tunnel

R««J Time
New Generation

Electronic Learner's Guide
French

ETST
Longman

3+
4#

Simulation/Strategy

Tiler Tun

Micro wish

French is Fun

CDS

Airline

CCS

Tune Gate

Qukksifva

Friend or Foe

Longman

Alien

Mind Games

Time bomb

CDS

Viking Raiders

Firebird

American Football

Mind Gaines

Tobor

Add-on

German is Fun

CDS

Angler

Virgin

Tornado Low Level

Vortex

Highway Code

Learning Systems

Anthem

CCS

Toy Bizarre

Activision

High wire

Englefield Software 2 *

Ashes

Pulsonic

Trashman

New Generation

Hotline

Chalksofi

Atram

PD Visual

Travel with Trashman

New Generation

Huiupty Dump(Y

Widget

Mjrkt-UnK

Trajot

Quicksilva

Inkosi

Chalksofi

IlimriK ton'-. Squash

New Generation

TribWe T rubble

Software Projects

Learn to Read 1-5

Sinclair

Battle for Midway

PSS

Trom

DK Ironies

Light and Heat

Rose Software

Battle 1917

CCS

Turtle Time warp

Soft stone

Linkword

Silvrrsofl

Brewery

CCS

Tutankhamun

Micromania

Look Sharp

Mirrorsofl

Caribbean Trader

East Midland

Two-Gun Turtle

Lolhlorien

Mac man in the T. Caves

Sinclair Research

Combat Lynn

Durrell

Uflderwuride

Ultimate

Mac man's Magic Minor

Sinclair Research

Confrontation

Lothloncn

Wbek

Microsphere

Mansfield Park

Sussex

4 +

Confrunlalion Scenarios

Lothloricn

Witch's Cauldron

MikrO'Gen

Maths

GCE Tutoring

Conquest

Cheetnsoft

Wizard 1 ? Lair

Bubble bus

MatJtskiUs II

Griffin

Cricket Captain

Allan son

Wizard's Warriors

Miistertronik

MDA-PCSS

MDA Assoc.

DixMille

CCS

World Series Baseball

Imagine

Merchant of Venice

Penguin SrmU

Fall of Rome

ASP

Worm Attack

Pulmonic

Mr T's Measuring Games

Ebury

Fighter Pilot

Digital Integration

Worse Things Happen at

SeaSilversofl

Mr T Meets His Match

Ebury Software

Flight Simulation

Sinclair

Wrath of Magra

Master? ision

Music master

Sinclair

Football Manager

Addictive Games

Wriggler

Romantic Robot

Nineteenth C. England

Sussex

Formula One

CRL

Xadorn

Quicksilva

Oil Strike

Sinclair Research

■J*

Full TbroltJe

Micro mega

Xavior

PSS Software

Paddinglon's Garden Game

Collins

Frank Bruno's Boxing

Elite

Zenii

Activision

Pathfinder

Widget

Galaxy Conflict

Marteeh

Zig-Zag

Drs'trOnics

Physics

Longman

Gangsters

CCS

Zombie Zombie

Quicksilva

Physics

Sctsoft

Gatecrasher

Quicksilva

Business

Pirate

Postman Pal's Trail Game

Chalksofi
Longman

4*
4*

Golf

Grand National

Virgin
Elite

4-*
4*

Address Manager

OCP

4 +

Riddle Of the Sphinx

Lungman

Grand Prix Manager

Silicon Joy

Banker

Andic Software

Km. , Rabbit, Run

Longman

Great Britain Ltd

Hcssel

Bank Account System

K Gouidstone

4 +

Sequences

Chalksofi

Gyron

Firebird

Bizztcom

Merlin

Snaffle

Longman

Heathrow Ini ATC

Hewson

Collector's Pack

Sinclair

Speech Marks

Sinclair

Howzat

Wyvern

Database

Micro!

Spelling Bee

Image Systems

Hunter Killer

Protck

5 +

Decision Maker

Collins

Start nicker

Widget

lis Only Rock o' Roll

K-Tel

Electric Office

F ishcr Software

Stuart Period

Akadamias

Jack Chariton's Match

Entrepreneur

Collins Sort

SupcrTed

Longman

Fishing

Alligata

Heath pia finer

EEcath Computing

Teacher Data

B F arris

Juggernaut

. Kl

Home Budget

Kunu Cn mpule r*

Tease French

Suuis

4 +

Match Day

Ocean

Investment^ Insurance,

WcaJhermastcr

Sinclair'Macmillan

Match Point

Sinclair

Inform? don

Inform

Weather Station

Arnold Wheatoa

Millionaire

Incentive

In voicing: Accounting

Transform

Words and Pictures

Chalksofi

Mugsy

Melbourne House

KeyfUe

Kcysoft

Wordsetter

Sinclair Macmillan

NcwBirkdal*

Hornby

SINCLAIR USER Annual 1986

127

1= Buyers' Guide

New Venture
Vitr, Faldo's Open

Olympics

Overlord*

Plunder

Red Weed

Rcgarttb 10 Broadway

Reich w.Lld

Riiv.il Rtrkdale

Scaitcrbraio

747 Flight SLmuLiIvr

Ski Star iWH)

S^ulhcm Bclk

Special Opcraiiun-i

Spectre aim

Star Trader

Stcyir Da*H Suuuktfr

Slonkers

Strife* Attack

Super-League

Super Soccer
Tr*t Match
The Bw
(Tic Bulge
The For*St
TruulJ
Untied
Video P"!il
Viking Raiders
War 70
Whodunnit
Wilfred the Hairy
World Cup Football

Traditional

A returns

Backgammon

Brag

Bridge Matter

Bridge Player

Bullseyr.

fJurdu

Fak-OB

Ar^US

Incentive

CCS

CRL

Lolhlorien

CCS

Lothlorkii

Arj;u*

MW C-*mc5world

On«n

Manor

DACC

Richard Shepherd

Hewsoo

Lothiorien

Kuoe&oft

Bug Byte

CDS

Beau Jolly

Micro marl

Winters

Com p. Rentals

Virjn'n

LotbJurien

Chippy

Hornby

< t.s

OCP

Firebird

CCS

Microbytc

Artie

Visions

CP Software

Turtle

Serin

CP Software

Maslertronk

Leisure Gcoiui

2+ Derb> Day

3+ Do Not Pass On

4* Drmhlc Dealer

4* Draughts

3# Mind Games

5* Mooopoty

4* Pbnloon

4* Scrabble

3* Super Bridge

2* Supcrtrhesi II

4+ Supcrches« MI

2* The Turin

2* Voice Chess

3* Yatiree

4* £X Draughts

I* 7-X Reversi

\l Utility

4+ Allison si

5 + Artist, The

2* Assembler

I* Assembler

2* Beyond Bask

1 * Building Price

4* Compiler

4* Cutuposer

4* HP Compiler

4* Games Designer

2* 11 L RG

J* Keyword pKlension

J+ Lightmajpc

4* Inttirmaliun Handling

4* Make Mysic

1# Melbourne Draw

4* Moniior'Diss,

Music Maker

Painlho*

4* Print Utilities

4* QuiU

4* Screen Machine

4* Sottjlk 1-2

4* Spec. Compiler

2* Spectre Mae'Mon

J* Speetroftim

CRL

Work Fwc*
MFM Software
CP Software
Ouis

Leisure Genius
Contrast
Sinclair
Buffer Micro
CP Software

CP Software

OCP

Artie

CP Software

CP Suftwarc

CP Software

A Fimiinger
Softek
Artie
Roybol

i*
3*

3*
4*

4*
2*

2*
5*
4*
4*

5 +
4*
5+
3*
4+
4*

5*
3*
2+
3+
3*
l*
1*
5 +
4*

Spectrum kilcnded Basic

Spectrum Monitor

Spectrum Sprites

Spectrum Super Toolkit

Supercode II

The Comp. M- Code Tutor

The Illustrator

Varilalk

VuiD

White Lightning

Zeui Assembler

CP Suftwart

Picturesque

ISP

Nectarine

CP Software

New Generating

GiKnli

I I ^ Suffware

Sinclair

Oasis

Sinclair

j Redman
Softek

Contrast
Softek
QuiclfStlva

Melbourne House ■»•

Timedala 4*

New Generation 4*

McGraw Hill 2*

Rullcr Micro 4+

Melbourne House 4*

Sinclair 4*

Btllflower 2*

Print ii Plotter 4*

Sinclair 4*

Gilsufl 5*

ISP 4*

CP Software 4*

Softek 4*

Oasis 4*

Shiva 2 +

Adder Assembler

Area Radar Controller

Assembler iHv. package

BS.u L.|.«Lk

Cartridge Doctor

EVA

GraphiQL

GST Assembler

Hopper

Hyperdrive

Land of Havoc

MieroAPl.

MonQL

Pascal

O.L Agenda

QL Bank Accounts System

QL Cash Trader

QL Caverns

QL Chess

QL Compiler
QL Gardener
QL Reversi
QL Toolkit
QSpell

Quilmcrge

Super Backgammon

Super Sprite Generator

Typing Tutor

Zkul

Adder Publishing

Shadowsoll

Mclftcomco

Quest

latent

Wcstway

Talent

Sinclair Reseaech

Mierodeal

English Software

Micradeal

MicmAFl

HiSotl

Computer tint

Metacomco

Q Sn.lt

KJ Gouldstonc

Sinclair

Stnclail*

Psion

GST

Sinclair

Sol i school

Sinclair

EUdersoft

Pitch Associates

Digital Precision

Computer One

Talent

UnitSoft la

trfomtmi fHOKJCTs igiwi ltb

UHITI

13G IrKRiH $TKcT

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FRANK BRUNO 5.95

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SPYHUNTER 5.95

REALM OF IMPOSSIBILITY 7 50

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M0 RD0NS QUEST , , 5.20

STARI0N 5.95

OOOMDARK'S REVENGE......... 7.50

NODES Of YES0D 7.50

ROCKY ,5,95

SHA00W FIRE , 7.50

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PAWS 5.20

EXPLODING FIST 6.70

HIGHWAY ENCOUNTER 5 95

POLE POSITION., 5.95

PROFANATION 5.75

SOUTHERN BELLE 5.95

ROBIN OF SHERWOOD 7 50

TERR0MOLIN0S , 5.75

FAIR LIGHT 7.50

GYR0N 7,50

Postage included UK. Please

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RED MOON 5.20

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state which micro. Overseas, orders add £1 .00 per

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the minute new releases for the

4*
4*
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128

SINCLAIR L:SF.R Annual 1986

Software Publishers E

book

Problems or congratulations. If you
need to contact a software house, just
look through the directory below

A it F Software, Unit 8, Canalside Industrial Estate, Woodbine Street

East. Rochdale, Lancashire OL16 5LB

Abacus Software, 21 Union Street, ftamsbottom, Nr Bury, Lancashire

Abbcx, 20 Ashley Close, Manor Hall Drive, London NW4

Abersoft, 7 Maesfatlen, Bow Street, Aberystwyth, Wales

Ac ti vision, 15 Harley House, Marylebone Road, London NW1

Adder Publishing Ltd, PO Box 148, Cambridge CB 1 2EQ

Add-on Elect runic s, Unns 2,3 & 4, Shire Hill Industrial Estate, Saffron

Wjtkkn,EssenCB113AQ

Addictive Gunes, 7a Richmond Hill, Bournemouth BH2 6HE

ADS, 8 Bronchutch Street, Portsmouth, Hampshire PCM 8RY

Alan hirmingcr, 171 Heme Hill, London SE24 9LR

Ailanson Computing, 77 Chorkv Road, Adlington, Chorlev, Lancashire

PR69LH

Alligata Software, 1 Orange Street, Sheffield SI 4DW

Argus Press Software, Liberty House, 222 Regent Street, London W]

Arcade Software, Technology House, 32 Chislehurst Road, Orpington,

Kent BR6 ODG

Ariolasoft, Asphalt House, Suite 105-106, Palace Street, London SW1E

Arnold Wheaton, Parksidc Lane, Dcwsbury Road, Leeds LSI I 5TD

Artie Computing, Main Street, Brandesburton, Driffield Y025 8RG

Aitroealc, 67 Peascroft Road, Hemel Hempstead, Herts HPJ 8ER

Atlantis Software, 19 Prebend Street, London N 1

Automata UK, PO Box 78, Souihsea, Hampshire

Axis, 71 Brookfield Avenue, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE 11 3LN

Beau-Jolly, 19A New Broadway, Ealing, London W5

Bellflower Software, & Rosewood Avenue, Greenford, Middlesex UB6

Bctasiofl, 92 Oxford Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 9SQ

Beyond Software, Lector Coun, 151 Earringdun Road, London EC1

Bridge Software, 36 Fern wood, Marplc Bridge, Stockport, Cheshire

Bridge master, Sandymouth, Beeches Road, Farnham Common,

Buckinghamshire SL2 3PS

Bubble Bus Software, 87 High Street, Tonbridge, Kent TN9 1RX

Calpac Computer Software, 108 Hermitage Woods Crescent, St Johns,

Woking , Surrey

Campbell Systems, 57 Trap's Hill, Loughton, Essex JG 10 1TD

CCS, 14 Langton Way, BLackheath, London SE3 7TL

CDS Micro Systems, Silver House, Silver Street, Doncaster, South

Yorkshire DNUHL

Century 'Hutchinson, 17-21 Conway Street, London Wl

Chaikioft, 17 Willowsiea Road, Northwick, Worcester

Chcctahsoft, 24 Ray Street, London ECIR 3DJ

Clever Clogs, Liberty House, 222 Regent Street, London Wl

Collins, 1 8/20 Stephenson Way, North Gower Street, London NWl

2DX

Collins Soft, 8 Grafton Street, London W 1

CompUSOUnd, 32/33 Langlcy Close, Redditeh, Worcester B98 0ET

Cora putatu tor, 3 Thaha Close, Greenwich, London SE10 9NA

Computer One, 32 Science Park, Milton Road, Cambridge CB4 4DH

Contrast Software, Warren Road, Lias, Hampshire GU33 7DD

CorubiH Software, 2 Penrith Way, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire HP21

CP Software, 10 Alexandra Road, Harrogate, Yorkshire HGl SJS.

Craig Communications, FO Box 46, Basingstoke, Hampshire

Creative Sparks, Thomson House, 2% Famborough Road,

Farn borough, Hampshire

CRL, 9 Kings Yard, Carpenters Road, London El5 2HD

Cross Software, 72 Swanshopc, Burney Drive, Lnughton, Essex

CSP Systems, 213 Stain beck Road, Leeds

DACC Ltd, 23 Waverley Road, Hindley, Wigan, Lancashire WN2 3BN

Database Publications, Europa House, 68 Chester Road, Hazel Grove,

Stockport, 5K7SNY

Delta 4, The Shielding, New Road, Swanmorc, Hampshire SO? 9PE

Design Design, 2 Ashton Way, East Harrington, Sunderland SR3 3RS

Digital Integration, Waichmoor Trade Centre, Watcbmoor Road,

Camberley, Surrey GU 1 5 3 AJ

Digital Precision, 91 Manor Road, Higham Hill, London E17

DKtronics, Unit 6, Shire Hill Ind Est, Saffron Waldcn, Essex CB1 1

Domark, 204 Wotple Road, London SW20

Dorcas Software, 3 The Oasis, GlenHckl, Leicester

Dunitz, 1 54 Camden High Street, London NWl ONE

Durrell Software, Castle Lodge, Castle Green, Taunton TAl 4AB

Dymond Software, 22 Hospital Road, Annan, Dumfriesshire DG12

Dyna vision Production! Studio, PO Bo* 96, Lutdn LU3 2JP

East London Robotics, St Nicholas House, The Mount, Guildford,

Surrey GU2 5HN

Eastmead, Eastmcad House, Lion Way, Camberky, Surrey GU16 5EZ

EJdersoft, Fhe Office, Hall Farm, North Ockcnden, Upminstcr, Essex

RM14 3QH

8th Day, 18 Flaxhill, Moreton, Wirral, Merseyside LU6 7UH

Electric Abacus, Oakland* House, Solanron Road, Famborough, Hants

Elite Systems, Anchor House, Anchor Road, Aldridge, Walsall, West

Midlands WS98PW

Elm Computers, 59 Bateman Road, East Leake, Loughborough,

Leicestershire LEI 2 6NN

Engleficld Software, High House, Mill Street, Buxton, Norfolk NRIQ

English Software, I North Parade, Parsonage Gardens, Manchester

Fantasy Software, Fauconberg Lodge, 27a St Georges Road,

Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

Fawkes Computing, 41 Wolf ridge Ride, Alveston, Bristol BSJ2 2RA

Felix Software, 19 Leighmn. Avenue, Pinner HA5 3BW

Firebird Software, Wellington House, St Martins Lane, London WC2

Fisher Software, 47 London Road, Buxton, Derbyshire

Futwood, 20 Tcmplesrowe Hill, Whitkijrk, Leeds LSI 5 7EJ

Gaines Machine, 40 Frcthenie Road, Wclwyn Garden City,

Hertfordshire AL8 6NU

Gamma Software, 12 Milverton Road, London NW6 7AS

Gargoyle Games, 74 King Street, Dudley, West Midlands

Gavin Barker, 12 Fleming Field, Shotton Colliery, County Durham

DH6 2JF

GCE Tutoring, 40 Brinners Hill, Widner End, High Wycombe,

Buckinghamshire

Gemini Marketing, Unit 2 1 , Dinan Way Trading Estate, Exmouth,

Devon EX 8 4RS

Gem time Software, 16 Ben Ledi Road, Kirkcaldy, Fife K Y2 5RP

Genesis Productions, 30 Great Portland Street, London WIN 5AD

Gilsoft, 30 Hawthorn Road, Barry, South Glamorgan, South Wales

Guuldstone, 45 Burleigh Avenue, Wallington, Surrey SM67UG

Granada Publishing, 8 Grafton Street, London W1X 3LA

Gremlin Graphics, Alpha House, 10 Carver Street, Sheffield Si 4FS

Griffin & George, Frederick Street, Birmingham Bl 3HT

GST, 91 High Street, Longstanton, Cambridge CB4 5BS-

Haresoft, PO Box 365, London NWl

Harlequin Software, 43 Osprcy Park, Thornbury, Bristol BS12 1LY

Hartland Software, 32 Ivor Place, London NWl 6DA

Heine mann Computer Education, 22 Bedford Square, London WC1B

Hessel, 15 Lythan Court, Cadwell Crescent, Sunningdale, Berkshire

Hestacrcst, FO Box 19, Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire LU7 ODG

Hewson Consultants, 5GB Milton Trading Estate, Milton, Abingdon

Hilderbay, 8/10 Parkway, Regents Park, London NWl 7AA

Hilton Computer Services, 14 Avalon Road, Orpington, Kent

Hisoft, 180 High Street, Dunstable, Bedfordshire LU6 1AT

H odder & Sloughton, PO Box 6, Dunton Green, Sevenoaks, Kent

Home study Ltd, Treleigh Woods Farm, Treleigh, Redruth, Cornwall

TR164AW

Hornby Software, 2 1 Penfold Hill, Leeds LS 15 0PW

Icon Software, 65 High Street, Gosforth, Tyne and Wear NE3 4AA

IMS Software, 143/145 Uxbridge Road, Ealing, London Wl3 9AV

Image Systems, 34 Lynwood Drive, Worcester Park, Surrey KT4 7AB

Imagine (84), 6 Central Street, Manchester M2 5NS

Impact Software, 2 New Streetj Cullompton, Devon EX15 1HA

Imperial Software, Imperial House, 153 Churchill Road, Poole, Dorset

Incentive, 54 London Street, Reading, Berkshire RG I 4SQ

Inform Software, 3 Treesdak Close, Birkdale, Southpon FR8 2EL

Interceptor Micros, Lindon House, The Green, Tadley, Hampshire

Interceptor Software (see Interceptor Micros)

Inlerstella Software, 82 New Forest Drive, Brockenhurst, Kent

ITS Software, 33 Foscotc Road, London NW4 3SE

KJ Gouldstone, 45 Burleigh Avenue, Wallington, Surrey SMS 7JG

JK Greye Software, 16 Park Street. Bath, Avon BAl 2TE

JRS Software, 19 Wayside Avenue, Worthing, Sussex BN13 3JH

INCLAIRUSER Annual 1986

129

Software Publishers

Kemp, 43 Muswell Hill, London N10 3PN
Keysoft, 6 Bruce Grove, Tottenham London N 17
KoLos Software, 1 Pilgrims Close, Harlmgtou, Dunstable,

Le^mgSystems, 1 1 Warw ick Court, Prince. Driw, Harrow, Midd*

HA1 4UB

Legend, PO Box 455, London E4 7 LX _,„„..„

Leisure Gtnius, 3 Montague Row, London WIH I AB

Lerm 10 Brunswick Gardens, Corby, Northamptonshire

l1™ Num, 229 HugendenRoad, High Wycombe, Bucfcnghamsbire

HP1 ^ SPG

Llainlan Software, Pontvbercm, Llanelli, Pyfed, Wales

Llamasoft, 49 Mount Pleasant, Tadley, Hamps hire

L«gman, Longman Group, l^ugman »?»L*£wSSSSe

LotWorien, 56a Park Lane, Poynton S^k^-^ wr?R *LF

MacnuU-n Software, 4 Little Essex Si^et London WC2R JLf

Manor Software, 24 Manor Gardens, London SW20

Manx Taoes Garcy Veg, Glen Audlyn, Ramsey, Isle of Man

Si^edita*, 9 Billmgburgh Road, Eastbourne, East Susse* BN20

Mastertronic,la5forMastervisiDn) „ m7[1

MMterviaion, Park Lome, 1 1 1 Park Road, Loudon NW*7JL

XSErWi, Shopotn Hanger, Road, Mardenhead, Berkshire

Medidata, PO Box 26, London NW9 9BW

Melbourne House, Castle Yard House, MM, Pochmond TW10

Metacomco, 26 Portland Square, Bristol BS2 8RZ rB77FO

Michael Slatford, 3 Campdcn Road Sou* ^"J^f* 2 7EQ

Mk-rodcal Ltd, 41 Truro Road, St Austell, Cornwall PL25 5JE

EE^EuK. OS 6 Marlborough Road Trading Estate, Lattimore

Road, St Albans, Hertfordshire nnaq nTi

Micro Wish, PO Bos IS.Colne, Lancashire BBS 9DB

MicroAPL, Unit IF, Nine Elms Industnal Estate, 87 Kirtlmg Street,

London SW8 5BP

Microbytt, 19 Worcester Close, Lichfield, Staffordshire

Microcosm, 68 The Glade, Clayha" Word

Microdeal, 41 Truro Road, St A™t=Q,Cornw^L» 5jE

Micromania, 14 Lower Hill Road, Epsom, Surrey KT19 8LT

Micromega, 230/236 Lavender Hill, London S* 1 1

Microsphere, 72 Roseberv Road London NIO 2LA

MikroJien. 44 The Broadway, Bracknell, Berkshire RG12 !«*

MiSSnSoftware, 17 Whitehouse Drive Kingstone, "-^^

Minatron Computing, 34 Pinewood Close, Westbury-on-Tryxn, Bristol

Mind Games, L.berty Hon*:, 222 Regent Street, London W I

Mirrorsoft, PO Bos 50 , Bromley , Kent BR2 9TT

Sjortor Software, Suite II, 526-8 Watford Way, London NW7

Mosaic, 187 Upper Street, London Nl 1R Q Walsall WS7

MW Gamesworfd, 12 Lawnswood Avenue, ^*™' W ^f" ^

Ui _ ;Hnn c oftwu( PO Box 2, Tadworth, Surrey, KT20 7LU

NaC- So'fl^o Soho Synth House, ISA Soho Square, London

Nectarine, 837 Yeovil Road, Slough SL 1 4JH

New Generation Software, FREEPOS I , Bath BA2 4TD

Ne^soft, 12 White Broom Road, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire

Oasis Software, 12 Wahiscote Road, Weston- Super- Mare, Avon

Ocean Software, 6 Central Street, Manchester «? *« s

OCP 77a Packhorse Road, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire SL3 HrTJ

oX SorrwareThc Podium, Steers House, Canning Place, Liverpool

SSSiXtrS * , Church Farm, Hade, St George, Near Sandy,

StoX^^rJtUlowRoad, Wil.esden, London NW10 9QL

STe Software, The Scala, 2nd Floor 275 *«^ *■?£ adflB

PD Visual Marketing, Thanet House, Craven Road, London W2

Penguin, 536 King's Road, London SW 10

Pbipps Associates, 172 Kingston Road, Ewell, Surrey

£2. Pobhshiog, 14 Vernon Road^ushey, H^*^™ 2JL

Picturesque, 6 Corkscrew Hill, West Wickham, Kent BR4 9BB

Pitch Associates, 39 Rockleigh Avenue, Leigh -on-Sa _, bs«x

Pooler Games. 24 Parsloes Avenue, Pagennam RMy p« a

KSSbST&oL, Common Road, Headky, Newbury, Berkshire

Positive Image Software, 1 29 Dumbarton Road, Glasgow

p«n, a' Plotter Products, 19 Borough High iireet, London Sbl yfcfc

^(SSaSTa Young Square, Brucefield Ind Park, Uvmgston,

West Lothian Krrtii

Psion, 2 Huntswonh Mews, Gloucester Place London NW 1
PSS 452 Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry LVo J LHj
P^i, Warwick Distribution Ltd, 3 Standard Road, Park Royal,

LondonNW106EX C)k ,„ BH

Q-Soft, PO Box 90, Barnet, Hertfordshire EN 5 5RN

Quest Interaatioaal Computer Systems, Gdlingham House, 58-44

Gillingham Street, London SW!

QuicksHva, Liberty House, 222 Regent *^£°ndon W l
Radar Games, 53 F'UveL Street, Woodsetton, Dudley DY1 4NU
RAM Writer, 3 Vumba House, 2 Cedar Gardens, Sutton, Surrey
Ramtop Services, 5 Rue D'Artois, 75008, Paris, France

Realtime Software, Prospect House, 32 Sovereign Street Lred* ^ Ji I

Red Snift, 12c Manor Road, Stoke Newington, London N16 5SA

Rkhardson Institute forConfli.t wd Peace Research, Dept ofPoht.cs,

University of Lancaster I-Al 4YF

Romantic Robot, 77 Dyne Road, London NW6 7DS

Rose Software, 148 Widney Lane, Solihull, Wes. Midlands

Runesoft, Chamwcod House, Cro.sgate Dr.ve Nottingham NG2TLW

Sentient Software, Branch House, 18 Branch Road, Armlev Leeds

ITX 5 Minuter Gardens, Newthorpe, Eastwood, Nottingham Nbl$

SCR Adventures, 190 Shelbourne Road, Tottenham, ^ndon

SD Microsystems, PO Box 24, Hitchin, Hertfordshire SG4 OAE

Selec Software, 37 Councillor Lane, Cbeadle, Cheshire

S^ Software', Freepost, Dcpt SU7, PO Box 163 S^ngh, Berkshire

Shadowsoft, 70 Gooseacre, Cheddington, Bedfordshire

Shards Suite G, Roycraft House, 15 Linton Road, Barking, tssex

HS$£ Software^Elm House, 23-25 Ehnshott Lane, Chippenham,

sSo^l'tSon House, 271/273 King Street London W69LZ

Sinclair Research, 25 Willis Road, Cambridge CB I 2AQ

666, PO Box 190, Maidenhead, SL6 I YX

Slogger Software, 215 Beacon Road, Chatham, Kent

Softscbool, 471 Hornscy Road, London N 19 3QL

Soft Tech, 3 1 Lampits, Hodd^don, Hertfordshire

Softek International Ltd, 12/1 3 Henrietta Street, London WC2E 8LH

Softel. 5 Durward Drive, Glenrothes, Fife K Yo JLB

SoftlT Softly, 3ft Broadtands Road, Bromley, Kent

Software Cottage, 19 Westfidd Drive, Loughborough, Leicestershire

1 F 1 1 30 T

Software Farm, 3rd Floor, 16 Charlotte Street, London Wl

IrZare S£ Bear Brand Complex, Allerton Road, Woolton,

Liverpool Merseyside U5 7SE ifTStoftr

Spartan CC, 29 Feltham Avenue, ^ M f^>7 T f, T8 * BJ
Spectadraw, I Cowleaze,Chuinor, Oxfordshire OX94TD
Spcctrasoft, Capital House, Market Place, London W3 6AL
Spoof Software, 5B Railway Road, Urmston , Manchester M^ II 1 X I
Star Dreams, 17 Barn Close, Seaford, Last Sussex, BN25 3EN
Startersoft, 32 Parkfields, Chippenham, Wiltshire
Statesoft, 29Burrowf 1C id, Welwyn Garden .C*, "ej^™ _-.
Sleil Software, 36 Limefietd Avenue, Whalley, Lancashire BB69RJ
Soling Software, Garfield House, &6/8B Edgcware Road, London W2
iJatagem Cybernetics, 2S6Cofbin Place, 2E, Brooklyn, New York

slilis Software, 4 Church Street, Abbey Green, Baih BA i I PP
Sunshine Books, 12/ 13 Newport Street, London WC2
lu^eTpublication^ownsend Poulshot, Devizes, WihshueSN 10 1 SD
System 3, South Bank House, Black Prince Road London Shi 1
Taknt Computer Systems Curran Buildmg, 101 Si ]«m Road,

TaXet, 13 High Street, Bridlington, Yorkshire TO16 4PR
Tasrnan Software, 17 Hartley Crescent, Leeds LS6 2LL
Temptation Software, 27 Cinque Pons Street, Rye, East Sussex
Terminal Software, Derby House, Derby Street , Bury BL9 ON W
Te,(gate, 14 Brook Lane, Corfe Mullen, Wunbourne, Dorset
The Edge, 31 Maiden Lane, Govern Garden, London \tC2E 8LH
ThinkTank, 35 Wellington Road, Wimbledon Park, London 5W 19
Thor Computer Software, Erskine Industrial Estate Liverpool L6 1 AP
Timedata, 16 Hemmells High Road, Laindon, BdSl don Essex SS15
Transform, 41 Keats House, Porchester M«d, Beckenham,, Kent
Tutorial Software, ' V Hands', Glasllwch Lane, Newport, (.went NF1
Uhimat Play the Game, The Green, Ashby de h. Zouch, ^"tershrre
Unicorn Micro Systems, 312 Charminster Road, Bournemouth BHS
University Software, 29 St Peters Street, London N I
US GoW, Unit 10, The Parkway Industrial Centre, Heneage Street,

Birmingham B7 4LY ,-.»«. *t i iat

Vega Space Systems, 28 Watford Road, St Albans AL1 2AJ

Virgin Games, 2-4 Vernon Yard, London W 1 1

VI) 3 9-l0AThe Bridge, Walsall, West Midlands

Vortex software. Vortex House, 24 Kansas Avenue, off South

Langworthy Road, Sal ford, MS 2GL _,.,..

Westway, 24 Preston Road, Lytham, 1-ancashue F1 1 8 5AA

Wideet Software, 48 Durham Road, London N 2 9U J

W^^wTnW™ Close, Cant.ey, ^ncaster, SouuV Yorkshire

Woosoft, 5 Andrews Qose, Robertsbridge, Sussex TOW SI* ^

Workforce, 140 Wilsden Avenue, Luton, Bedfordshire

Wyvem Software, 2 Princes Building, George Street, Baih BA1 2fcD

SINCLAIR USER AmwdfiMt

\-\

w?\

ADVANCE WITH SAGA

lire

1,1,1,1,1 ...l,,, ' " "^ ,

rrriYrrriV.V J "

J , 1. L

^T^

■LI, i ,1.1 L

1 ,1 1 1 1 1 1 I 1 t > ^

After adding our products to your Spectrum,
your Spectrum will not merely become a superior
computer but a more complete computer system.

The SAGA keyboards, culminating in the new
SAGA 3 ELITE, provide your Spectrum with the sheer
elegance that it deserves, The SAGA 3 ELITE
incorporates the most recent technology in keyboard
design which provides 27 single entry functions.

H you would I ike graphics with real Style, then
they are yours with our latest graphics package, while
letter quality print can be produced for less than
£120from our new printer,

Just cut out the Coupon belowfor any of the
following products:

SAGA 1 EMPEROR 67 keys enable easy access to
every function, making obsolete the "Stretch
requirement "of other keyboards. £49.95
SAGA 2 PROFILE A re-design of the popu la rl_o Profile
with number pad, 52 keys. £49.95
SAGA 3 ELITE recently developed, the SAGA 3 ELITE
is the finest available keyboard for your Spectrum,
The keyboard and number pad has 87 keys in total, a
massive 27 keys are auto shifted. £79.95

SAGA SYSTEMS LIMITED
(04862)22977

DUSTCOVERS Bla ck with SSL logo, ava ila ble for a II
keyboards. £4.95

STYLE Realise your graphicexpectations. Comprises
Kempston compatible interface and Software.

£29.95

SAGA GP Graphics Tablet— super improve STYLE,
plug it in and see. £79.95 (read the reviews!)
NEW LETTER QUALITY PRINTER The first in a new
range of printers to be available shortly. SPEED; 12
CPS. PRINT: Ink on ordinary A4 paper, INTERFACE:
Centronics & RS232. For print sample and further
information, write or call now. only £119,95
SOUNDBOOST Puts music in your ears(and
television) £9.95
FLEXICABLE Extend your capabilities with two more

ports! £11,95

TURBO INTERFACE with custom chip ROM slot and
2 joystick sockets the TURBO out performs other
joystick interfaces. £21.95

We invite yourenquines on (04862)22977.
more descriptive literature is freely available for each

product (please send stamp),

KEEPING YOUR COMPUTER
UP TO DATE

; : ;

QUANTITY
SAGA 1 EMPEROR

SAGA 2 PROFILE *

SAGA3EL1TE _ *

DUSTCOVER _ *

STYLE _ *

SAGAGP *

LTR-1 PRINTER *

SOUNDBOOST ~ *

FLEXICABLE i *

TURBO INTERFACE *
VAT is included

E49 95

£49.95
E 7995
£495
£29 95
€7995
E 11995
£995
£11.95
£2195

P&P
£1.50

El, 50

El. 85

FREE

£1.50

£230

FREE

TOTAL

SEND YOUR ORDERTO: DeptSU Order Desk Saga Systems
Limited. 2 Eve Road. Woking, Surrey GU214JT.

Mr/Mrs.' Miss

Address

Amount enclosed E

My Access Card Na is

g"5 ACCESS ONLY ACCEPTED

Please tick method of payment : POD Cheque □ Draft U Access □
If this is confirmation ol telephone order, please tick box [2

Signature

Date

uat 1986

Overseas orders, please deduct 15% VAT add £3 lor postage ex cess Please allow 28 days for delivery.

"Destined to become
one of the all time
classic games"

SINCLAIR USER

ZZAPl 64

"An absolute joy"

"A must for adventure
enthusiasts"

PERSONAL COMPUTER WORLD

"Truly original"

CRASH

After reviews like that, what more can we say?
"I think the best thing to say about this game is BUY IT!"

ZZAP! 64

Frederick Forsyth's THE FOURTH PROTOCOL - THE GAME is available on cassette

for the Spectrum and CBM64 at £12.95 and on dish for the CBM64 at £15.95.

Published by Century Communications, a division of Century Hutchinson Ltd.

Brookmount House, 62-65 Chandos Place, London WC2N 4NW

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